Technological Innovation in the Semiconductor Industry

In this chapter, the author describes the evolution of the semiconductor industry and starts with the creation of the vacuum tube. He examines the introductions of the transistor, the integrated circuit, and the LSI circuit and discusses the role of resources in the eras of LSI and VLSI circuits. The author defines the semiconductor industry and, more specifically, the memory products. The dynamics of the semiconductor industry show a continuously evolving pattern of innovativeness and shifting competitive advantage. This stream of innovation can be linked to an industry structure that has supported both basic research and subsequent development efforts. In April 1952, Bell laboratories held a symposium and publicly divulged what progress they had made towards the manufacture of transistors. Through the mid-1950s, most of the innovations continued to emerge from Bell laboratories and other well-established vacuum tube and electronic valve companies.