Pioneers, Hidden Champions, Changemakers, and Underdogs：Lessons from China's Innovators

Chineseinnovatorsaremakingtheirmarkglobally.NotonlydosuchgiantsasAlibabaandHuaweicontinuetothriveandgrowthroughinnovation,thousandsofyoungerChineseentrepreneursarepoisedtoentertheglobalmarketplace.Inthisbook,MarkGreeven,GeorgeYip,andWeiWeiofferaninsider'sviewofChina'sunder-the-radar,globallycompetitiveinnovators.Theauthors,allexpertsonChineseinnovation,distinguishfourtypesofinnovatorsinChina:pioneers,largecompaniesthataregloballyknown;hiddenchampions,midsizeenterprisesthataremarketleadersintheirniches;underdogs,technology-drivenventureswithsignificantintellectualproperty;andchangemakers,newerfirmscharacterizedbydigitaldisruption,exponentialgrowth,andcross-industryinnovations.Theyinvestigatewhatkindsofinnovationsthesecompaniesdevelop(product,process,orbusinessmodel),theircompetitivestrategies,andkeydriversofinnovation.TheyidentifysixtypicalwaysChineseentrepreneursinnovate,includingswarminnovation(collectivelypursuingopportunities)andrapidcentralizeddecisionmaking.Finally,theylookathowChineseinnovatorsaregoingglobal,whetherbuildingR&Dnetworksinternationallyorexportingdisruptivebusinessmodels.ThebookincludesmanyexamplesofChineseinnovatorsandinnovations,drawnfromarangeofcompanies—frompioneerstochangemakers—includingAlibaba,Haier,Hikvision,MalongTechnology,WeihuaSolar,Mobike,andCheetahMobile.Greeven,Yip,andWeiofferanessentialguidetowhatmakesChinaaheavyweightcompetitorintheglobalmarketplace.