Technological Innovation Path and Its Formation Mechanism in Deep-Tech Firms： A Case Study of Neolithic Autonomous Vehicles

HONG Shao-zhen; LIU Ying-qi; YANG Rui

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Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University（Social Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (2) : 103-111.

Technological Innovation Path and Its Formation Mechanism in Deep-Tech Firms： A Case Study of Neolithic Autonomous Vehicles

HONG Shao-zhen¹, LIU Ying-qi¹, YANG Rui²

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Abstract

Against the backdrop of deepening global technological competition， how deep-tech firms develop unique technological innovation paths amid resource constraints and underdeveloped institutional frameworks represents an important research issue that merits urgent academic attention. Taking Neolithic Huitong （Beijing） Technology Co.， Ltd. as the research case， this paper adopts a longitudinal single-case study approach and develops an analytical framework named “Scenario Autonomy Generation – Constraint Structural Restructuring – Institutional Responsive Diffusion – Path Formation” （SCI-PC） so as to reveal the formation mechanism of technological innovation paths for deep-tech firms under strongly constrained conditions. The research results indicate that scenario autonomy serves as the starting point of technological innovation paths and runs through their entire evolutionary process， and the proactive construction of operable scenarios constitutes the prerequisite for path initiation. During the continuous operation across diverse scenarios， constraints are endogenously transformed into a screening mechanism， enabling the paths to gradually converge from a merely operable state to stable and replicable modes. Meanwhile， Institutions do not provide a priori guidance； instead， they serve as an amplifier for legitimacy recognition and large-scale diffusion only after the formation of technological paths. Accordingly， the technological paths of deep-tech firms follow an ordered sequence of “scenario autonomous generation – structural restructuring of constraints – responsive institutional diffusion”. These three elements function sequentially as an initiator， a screening filter and an amplifier in path formation. Their sequential activation in chronological order and non-interchangeable functional logic jointly form a structurally coherent analytical framework for explaining how deep-tech firms build comparative advantages. In light of the above conclusions， governments should shift from ex ante approval to an ex post response mechanism. Firms ought to prioritize scenario operability over the pursuit of optimal technical performance. Small and medium-sized deep-tech firms can take the initiative to build segmented scenarios， substitute practical operational performance for technical parameter endorsement， and gradually break the lock-in of existing technological paths.

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deep-tech firms / technological innovation path / scenario autonomy / SCI-PC model

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HONG Shao-zhen, LIU Ying-qi, YANG Rui. Technological Innovation Path and Its Formation Mechanism in Deep-Tech Firms： A Case Study of Neolithic Autonomous Vehicles[J]. Journal of Beijing Jiaotong University（Social Sciences Edition）. 2026, 25(2): 103-111

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