Abstract:   In the context of US-China technological decoupling and the dual circulation strategy, it is significant for companies to achieve rapid breakthroughs in key core technologies of chip design. The complementary assets linking capacity, which accelerates the speed of technology absorption, is one method for companies to rapidly overcome key technological challenges. This study employed a longitudinal single-case study method, with Apple′s chip business as the research subject. From the perspective of complementary assets linking ability and absorption speed, the core contribution of this research is the proposal to introduce the "complementary asset linking ability---absorption speed---key core technology rapid breakthrough" theoretical model. This model defines complementary asset linking ability as the capacity of a company to link new technology R&D innovation and its commercialization across organizations, thus dividing key core technology breakthroughs into "self-developed" and "introduced" complementary asset linking modes, and revealing the breakthrough path of "technology-product-ecosystem". The study also found that the main reasons for the successful rapid linking of complementary assets by chip design companies include the enabling and influencing of partnership relationships, seizing of opportunity windows (technology, market, and ecosystem), and the distinction and linking strategies of types of complementary assets. Finally, this paper discussed from a "time" perspective how introducing complementary assets linking capacity accelerates the resolution of key core technology breakthroughs, revealing the dynamic match between the strength of complementary asset linking capacity and the speed of absorption, thereby fostering a scholarly dialogue between the fields of complementary asset linking capacity and absorption speed.

Key words:  key core technology, complementary assets linking capacity, absorption speed, chip design, rapid breakthrough