Historically, this has entailed a sequential process of learning by latecomers in skills, process technology, design technology and new product development (Lee, 2005). A few countries, notably the Republic of Korea and Taiwan Province of China, have achieved rapid economic growth by successfully leapfrogging in the development of a limited number of short-cyde technology sectors such as semiconductors and other electronic goods, skipping certain stages through which leading foreign firms passed in technological development. Typically, such latecomers have begun with assembly of final goods using imported parts, moving on to the development of tow-tech and then progressively higher-tech components, before learning to modify the design of existing products, and ultimately to develop new products (Lee and Lim, 2001).