This book investigates the critical role of technology diffusion and leverage in the creation of East Asia's semiconductor industry. The authors, Dong sung Cho and John A. Mathews, draw on a five-year research project involving firms and institutions in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. They focus on the micro-processes of organizational learning that enable technology leverage in knowledge-intensive sectors. Their argument extends beyond semiconductors, suggesting these processes are key to industrial evolution globally in the twenty-first century.

The book is presented as a result of extensive, collaborative research into the specific mechanisms that allowed East Asian economies to rapidly develop a competitive semiconductor industry. The authors' core argument highlights the significance of managing technology diffusion, not just innovation, as a primary source of wealth generation. This perspective suggests the work offers valuable insights for understanding industrial development in both emerging and developed economies. The focus on organizational learning and institutional construction points to a detailed, analytical approach to the subject.