Does China's high-speed rail network promote inter-city technology transfer? ——A multilevel network analysis based on the electronic information industry

Abstract

Even though the influence of high-speed rail (HSR) on innovation has drawn sustained attention, few studies have investigated the effect on technology transfer (TT), and even fewer studies have examined the structural dependency between transportation and TT. Using the exponential random graph model for multilevel networks, this study attempts to provide an in-depth analysis of the impact from a two-level network perspective, with the associated network configuration providing insights into how HSR shapes intercity TT. Our findings suggest that HSR facilitates inter-city TT and promotes innovation convergence. Specifically, cities with a higher degree centrality are more active in exporting technology rather than absorbing it. In contrast, the betweenness and closeness centrality of cities have no significant effect on TT. The effect of HSR, which is apparent among cities with direct connections along HSR lines, decays significantly in cities with indirect connections. This work allows for the identification of the conducive HSR layout for promoting inter-regional TT.