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Examining the moderating effect of technology spillovers embedded in the intra- and inter-regional collaborative innovation networks of China

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Abstract

Innovation network formulated by the collaborations between entities (firms, universities and research institutes) facilitates the technology spillovers, which usually act as a key factor that boosts indigenous innovation capability. This study analyzes the collaborative innovation network from both intra- and inter-regional dimensions. We use the Chinese biomedical patent co-inventing data between entities to construct the intra- and inter-regional collaborative innovation networks, and examine how they generate the spillover effect by moderating the relationship between R&D input and output, as well as how they moderate the technology spillovers from overseas countries. The empirical study shows that collaborative innovation network generates a significant moderating effect on the relationship between R&D personnel and innovation output, while this effect is insignificant for R&D investment. In the intra-regional collaborative innovation network dimension, clustering coefficient and network density generate positive moderating effects by amplifying the positive relationship between R&D personnel and innovation output, network density also positively moderates the correlation between overseas technology spillover and innovation output; In the inter-regional dimension, only the clustering coefficient positively moderates the relationship between R&D personnel and innovation output. Our study is also relevant to policy makers.

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Notes

  1. The robustness section tried 4 and 6 years window lengths, which lead to generally the same empirical results.

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Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China (71872169, 71810107004), National Social Science Foundation of China (15BGL027), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y8540XX1P2), and Bureau of Planning and Strategy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (GHJ-ZLZX-2019-33-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Gupeng Zhang

  2. Business School, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China

    Chongfeng Wang

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  1. Chongfeng Wang
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  2. Gupeng Zhang
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Correspondence to Gupeng Zhang.

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Table 6 Variable definition, measurement, data processing and resources
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Wang, C., Zhang, G. Examining the moderating effect of technology spillovers embedded in the intra- and inter-regional collaborative innovation networks of China. Scientometrics 119, 561–593 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03084-1

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