From Huasheng to Huawei: A History of the Chinese Electrical and Electronics Industries

In my new research project, I aim to reconstruct the history of China’s electrical and electronics industries since the late 19th century and write the first comprehensive archive-based history of these industries. Situated at the intersection of economic and business history, urban history, the history of technology and global history, my research traces the introduction and adaptation of electrical technology and electrical appliances — first by multinational and then by Chinese businesses — in modern China.  It aims to situate the Chinese electrical and electronics industries within China’s rise as an economic power and to show how these industries contributed to the grand transformation of Chinese business, industry and ordinary Chinese lives during the 20^th century. At the same time, this research project seeks to provide the critical historical background to the recent rise of Chinese firms such as Huawei or Haier as global leaders in electrical technology and appliances. The first part of this research project, which will trace the development of the electrical and electronics industries until 1937, is funded by a major grant from the Research Grants Council in Hong Kong.