Leapfrogging

The concept of leapfrogging was originally used in the context of economic growth theories and industrial-organization innovation studies with specific focus on competition among firms. It is based on Joseph Schumpeter's notion of ‘gales of creative destruction’. The hypothesis proposes that companies holding monopolies based on incumbent technologies have less incentive to innovate than potential rivals, and therefore they eventually lose their technological leadership role when new radical technological innovations are adopted by new firms which are ready to take the risks. When the radical innovations eventually become the new technological paradigm, the newcomer companies leapfrog ahead of former leading firms.

Leapfrogging, auch Leap-Frogging, (engl. leap frogging: Bockspringen) ist zunächst ein allgemeiner Begriff der Wirtschaftswissenschaften und bezeichnet im Allgemeinen (freiwilliges) Auslassen einzelner Stufen im Laufe eines Entwicklungsprozesses.

Leapfrogging (ook island hopping genoemd) was een militaire strategie die de geallieerden tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Azië toepasten tegen Japan. De techniek was bedoeld om snel terrein te winnen op de Japanners.

O conceito de leapfrogging foi usado originalmente no contexto das teorias de crescimento econômico e estudos sobre organização industrial e inovação com um foco específico em competição entre as empresas. Este conceito é baseado no conceito de Joseph Schumpeter sobre "tempestades de destruição criativa".

Leapfrogging betyder ungefär (ekologiskt) utvecklingssprång och syftar på det tekniksprång som ett relativt underutvecklat land (eller företag) kan ta genom att ta till sig den bästa, mest miljövänliga tekniken utan att behöva gå över föregångsländernas (/företagens) långa utveckling av tidigare sämre teknik.