Not being an expert or qualified on this, my speculation is size, as in a reasonably-educated population and resources to support them, not necessarily governme

Not being an expert or qualified on this, my speculation is size, as in a reasonably-educated population and resources to support them, not necessarily government efficiency or competency. The size is what enables a complex supply chain and network that high tech companies need. You can transfer tech to a smaller country like Vietnam all you want, but it will be forced to specialize into only a few industries as it matures if it wants to keep an edge (like with Korea, Taiwan, etc.). Edit: Maybe another thing is that value in technology is a mix of design and process. It's one thing to give the other side a blueprint, but it's another to force a joint-venture and teach people on the ground how to do things hands-on.