Knowledge and Competitive Advantage in the Synthetic Dye Industry, 1850–1914: The Coevolution of Firms, Technology, and National Institutions in Great Britain, Germany, and the United States
Journal
Enterprise & Society
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2000-12
Author(s)
Abstract (De)
It is London 1856. William Henry Perkin serendipitously invents the first synthetic dye while he is trying to synthesize quinine, a medicine for malaria. The nineteen-year-old Perkin leaves the Royal College of Chemistry and quickly commercializes his aniline purple dye, launching the synthetic dye industry. From that time on, the industry continues to dazzle the eye with ever new and appealing dye colors. Perkin, along with entrepreneurs from Britain and France, dominates the synthetic dye industry for the next eight years. During this period, British and French firms introduce most other innovative synthetic dyes onto the market, and they hold the largest global market share.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publisher place
Cambridge
Volume
1
Number
4
Start page
699
End page
704
Pages
5
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
peter.murmann@unisg.ch
Eprints ID
255428
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
open.access
Name
Murmann_introduction.pdf
Size
269.42 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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