There are many theories, and my books worth of theories on the subject, none of which are conclusive as this is one of THE questions of comparative history.

However one of the most commonly touted theories is the high-level equilibrium trap, which proposes that China operated at such a high level of efficiency in utilizing its manpower labor that there was no incentive to develop machinery technology to makeup for any shortage of manpower, which has been argued as one of the drivers of western european industrialism.

Keeping in mind, in a region as large and as diverse as China, "efficiency" may not be the number one thing on the minds of leaders in the country so much as perceptions of "stability."

As an example, why invent a car when you can hire (and thus offer employment) to four people to carry you in a sedan chair? Especially if otherwise with a car, those four unemployed people may start rebelling.

Which specific European technology do you mean ?