Using the Multi-Level Perspective Framework to Identify the Challenges for a Mineral-Rich Developing Country Entering the Metal Additive Manufacturing Global Value Chain

Peter Howie (), Jingyi Dong and Didier Talamona
Additional contact information
Peter Howie: Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Jingyi Dong: Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Didier Talamona: Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering & Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-25

Abstract: Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has become a crucial technology for rapid prototyping and enhancing the efficiency of producing lighter components. Despite these advantages, many challenges remain. We examine how mineral-rich developing countries can upgrade in the metal AM global value chain (GVC). We do so by applying the theory of GVCs and the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework to the metal powder segment. We investigate how Kazakhstan can link itself to the metal AM GVC by cooperating with China. Our case studies are based on 20 interviews with metal AM industry experts and scholars from Kazakhstan, China, and Europe. Using the MLP framework, we identify eight drivers that have enabled China to become prominent in the global metal AM industry. In addition, we identify eight barriers restricting Kazakhstan’s upgrading. For Kazakhstan to begin producing metal powders for AM, we suggest that its government start by implementing three policies, based on China’s experience: improve education and training systems, with a focus on advanced metallurgy; target AM industry segments in which cost, not quality, is a primary focus; and adopt international standards for metal AM-related activities. Our findings offer important lessons for other mineral-rich developing countries that may be more relevant than experiences from developed nations.

Keywords: multi-level perspective; global value chains; transitions; metals; powder metallurgy; barriers; drivers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/8031/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/17/8031/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:17:p:8031-:d:1743579

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().