China's rare earth industry technological innovation structure and driving factors: A social network analysis based on patents

Abstract

Based on patent information, the paper analyzes the technological comparative advantages from the perspective of industrial chain, and adopts the Social Network Analysis (SNA) method and knowledge production function model to explore technological innovation network structure of China's rare earth industry and its driving force. The results show that, overall, China's rare earth industry technological innovation ability has continued to increase in terms of the breadth and depth, and the industrial chain has shown the characteristics of “strong upper and weaker lower”. The network structure analysis show that the overall technical connection network tends to be close and stable, but it is still in a state of weak connection. In terms of individual networks, technologies represented by the development, extraction and smelting of rare earth resources constitute the core participants in the innovation network, and play the role of the power and control center of the technological innovation network. Further factors identification shows that China's innovation environment is the biggest driving force for technological innovation in the rare earth industry, followed by R&D investment and resource retention capacity. Additionally, the development of strategic emerging industries related to rare earths and resource production capacity have obvious lag effect on the technological innovation level.