Technological innovation refers to a drastic, revolutionary change in the way and scope of life caused by developments in technology and science. Some examples include the Agricultural Revolution during the Neolithic period, the Industrial Revolution during the 17^th and 18^th century, and the digital Information Revolution of the 21^st century. Examining these historical precedents, we realize why technological innovation is so important; it is directly related to the survival of a community and a society. About 12,000 years ago, the humanity went through the Agricultural Revolution, changing their way of life from scavenging to cultivation, from hunting to husbandry. As a result, the Neolithic period saw a great increase in food production, triggering a transformation to city-based civilization like Mesopotamia. However, not everyone accepted the change that this revolution brought; those people went extinct, or were absorbed into the Neolithic civilizations as slaves.

In the 18^th century, English inventor Thomas Newcomen came up with the first commercial steam engine to be sold to mines. James Watt, a mechanical engineer, patented his invention that improved the efficiency of the Newcomen steam engine. But Watt failed in commercialization and marketing, resulting in near bankruptcy. Fortunately, he partnered up with Boulton, a successful entrepreneur. Together, they employed a “rental marketing” strategy, making mines only pay for the amount of coal they were able to save, and succeeded in increasing the number of commercial steam engines. This served as a powerful driving force of the Industrial Revolution. Stephenson invented the steam locomotive, revolutionizing land transporation. Arkwright invented the spinning frame, leading the mechanization and industrialization of textile manufacturing, which kickstarted the Industrial Revolution.

In order for these technological revolutions to influence the society, there needed to be an ecosystem. During that time, central England had a patent system that protected new technologies. There were hundreds of private banks with large amounts of capital accumulated from commercial capitalism and international trade, setting up a financial ecosystem that could supply capital for technological development and commercialization. In addition, various technological educational institutions provided labor necessary for the Industrial Revolution. This example shows that an ecosystem of development, patent, labor, finance, and marketing is a prerequisite for the effective spread of innovative technology.

For examples of failure to accept a technological revolution, we do not need to turn our eyes to foreign countries. During the early 16^th century, peasant Gam Bul and slave Geom Dong, who worked in silver mines in Dancheon, Hamgyong Province, designed a creative method for refining silver—the Korean cupellation. Silver was being used as a form of international currency during this time. However, the Joseon royal court forcefully closed down a number of silver mines around the country, as a means to get rid of former king Yeonsangun’s remaining tracks. Japan, who had been keeping a close eye on Joseon, had secret meetings with engineers and lower bureaucratic officials of Joseon, learning the revolutionary silver refinement technology. Records show that these individuals were eventually discovered. The silver refinement technology was extracted by the Japanese. They employed the technology in Iwami silver mine, under the supervision of Jong Dan and Gye Su, technicians they had invited over from Joseon.

The Iwami silver mine had an annual production of about 150 tons of silver. Japan became world’s largest producer of silver, accounting for one third of silver production worldwide. Consequently, Japan joined the international trade network along with countries such as Portugal. The Iwami mine was seized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi by the end of the Sengoku period. Silver production provided a basis for acquiring more military forces and weaponry. Toyotomi united the country and went on to invade Joseon, which is the Imjin War that we now know of. A revolutionary silver refinement technology was invented in a mine in Dancheon, Joseon, but it failed to be implemented and instead was extracted by Japan. Joseon had lost its opportunity. Perhaps it could have evaded the horrors of war that followed, had it not done so.

The above example shows that while research and development of innovative technology are important, building an ecosystem of commercialization, manufacturing, and international trade is equally significant. The existence of such an ecosystem, which allows for technological innovations to be widely accepted and take root in the society, is directly related to the survival of a community as a whole. It has a lot of implications for our universities and our society today.

*This article is a revised summary of the manuscript titled ‘Acceptance of Technological Innovation,’ presented at the Naver Open Lectures on October 26^th, 2019.

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