本文以上海IC產業作為個案，追蹤手機IC晶片的發展，來探討中國高新區域的升級方式，先前研究大都強調國家介入或跨國企業的角色，本文提出所謂的「草根式升級」觀點，認為「後進國家若要進行產業和地方升級，必須擴大市場的經濟規模與範疇，利用技術平台與做中學的集體學習方式，使地方積累更多的管理和技術能力，同時地改變在地企業之間的連結關係，尤其是與在地領導企業或跨國企業的關係」。實證結果指出中國利用新興市場的經濟規模與範疇，以技術平台的建構與做中學的練兵方式，強化在地產業網絡的專業分工與協作的關係，並以內需轉出口的策略，成功地利用國內市場的資源，進入全球市場（新興市場為先，最後進入先進國家），逐漸突破品牌大廠主導模式及改變在全球價值鏈的位置。這種由一群在全球生產網絡中較為弱勢的中國在地企業與中低層消費者所發動的升級模式，是有別於以出口（至先進國家市場）與外包的快速追趕的升級模式。

This paper explores an upgrading strategy for China's high-tech regions as an alternative to state intervention or investment by multinational corporations (MNCs). The integrated circuit (IC) industry in Shanghai is discussed as a case, with an emphasis on the chips used in mobile handsets. Our findings suggest that the upgrading of Shanghai's high-tech region results from emerging markets which are coordinated by domestic companies, although government intervention and MNCs are also key factors. Chinese domestic companies have successfully leveraged the resources of China's domestic market into the emerging market and, ultimately, the developed market. In contrast to the global value chain (GVC) literature highlighted export-led and outsourcing upgrading strategies, China's high-tech regions have shown alternative upgrading strategies, from domestic-led growth to export-led upgrading. Technological learning does not occur through subcontracting linkages between MNCs and domestic companies, but rather through platform linkages whereby external knowledge is translated into know-how used by other companies within a region. Our contribution is to switch the focus from the investment of MNCs or state intervention toward the relationship between emerging markets and domestic companies.