Geopolitical shocks and technological adaptation

Photo by Elshan Neymatov on Unsplash

About the project

This project investigates how geopolitical shocks that disrupt access to critical materials influence firms’ technology sourcing and design strategies. We have collected data on all turbine models marketed by major suppliers, along with their global patent portfolios, and are assembling data on their component sourcing networks to trace input dependencies.

We argue that firms with greater technological and market flexibility prior to such shocks can adapt more quickly and effectively, adjusting their sourcing and innovation activities to sustain competitiveness. Firms with more rigid technological paths or narrowly defined markets, in contrast, face higher adjustment costs and slower strategic realignment.

The project contributes by explaining how firms’ pre-shock strategic configurations shape their ability to adapt and remain resilient in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape.

Research team

• Associate Professor Holmer Kok