이차전지산업의 지역별 투자 집중도에 따른 R&D 효율성 분석 = Analysis of R&D Efficiency based on Regional Investment Concentration in the Secondary Battery Industry

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzes the effects of regional R&D investment concentration on the economic performance of South Korea’s secondary battery industry, with a specific focus on the mediating role of R&D efficiency. The secondary battery sector, a critical power source for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, holds strategic importance for national competitiveness amidst global trends toward carbon neutrality and future mobility transitions. Despite the South Korean government’s designation of the industry as a national advanced strategic industry and increased R&D expenditures across 17 areas, concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of resource distribution and the potential inefficiencies arising from the low concentration of investments.

Utilizing data from 2021 to 2023 collected from the National Science and Technology Information Service and Statistics Korea, etc this study constructs an empirical model. Regional R&D investment shares in 2021 serve as the independent variable representing investment concentration, regional R&D efficiency in 2022 measured via Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) operates as the mediator, and commercialization counts in 2023 represent the outcome variable. The number of regional secondary battery companies is incorporated as a control variable to isolate effects.

The empirical analysis reveals a significant positive association between regional investment concentration and R&D efficiency, which subsequently contributes significantly to regional performance improvements. However, the direct effect of investment concentration on commercialization outcomes is not statistically significant. These results demonstrate a full mediation effect of R&D efficiency, indicating that the mere scale or concentration of investment does not guarantee performance; rather, the qualitative capacity to efficiently utilize resources is the fundamental driver of innovation outcomes.

Based on these findings, this study suggests an urgent paradigm shift in South Korea’s R&D strategy from quantitative expansion to qualitative enhancement. Specifically, three key policy innovations are proposed: First, Fiscal Innovation: Introducing 'Block Grants' to guarantee regional autonomy and flexibility in budget execution; Second, Diagnostic Innovation: Establishing a central 'Data-driven Precision Diagnostic System' to identify structural causes of inefficiency rather than imposing simple penalties; Third, Strategic Innovation: Formulating 'Tailored Regional Growth Strategies' based on diagnostic results to foster specialized clusters.

In conclusion, this research underscores that securing South Korea’s global competitiveness and technological sovereignty in the secondary battery industry depends not on the volume of investment, but on the establishment of an efficient governance system. Implementing these efficiency-centered policies will serve as a starting point for realizing innovation-driven balanced development, where regional economic growth and national industrial competitiveness are achieved simultaneously.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 제 1 장 서 론 1
• 1.1 연구배경 및 필요성 1
• 1.2 선행연구 검토 3
• 1.3 연구의 목적 5
• 제 2 장 이차전지산업 특성 및 연구의 이론 7
• 2.1 이차전지 산업의 중요성 및 R&D 투자 특성 7
• 2.2 DEA 모형 및 매개효과 이론 13
• 제 3 장 DEA 및 매개효과 연구 설계 24
• 3.1 연구 모형 설정 및 가설 도출 24
• 3.2 연구 분석 절차 30
• 3.3 변수의 선정 및 조작적 정의 31
• 3.4 자료 수집 및 최종 데이터셋 구성 40
• 3.5 통계 처리 및 분석 방법 42
• 제 4 장 효율성 분석 및 가설 검증 44
• 4.1 기술 통계량 분석 결과 44
• 4.2 상관관계 분석 결과 46
• 4.3 연구 가설 검증 결과 48
• 제 5 장 결 론 51
• 참고문헌 53
• Abstract 57