Structural Characteristics and Spatial Patterns of the Technology Transfer Network in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

Zhijun Feng,Hechang Cai,Wen Zhou

doi:10.3390/su12062204

Abstract

Recently, the Chinese government released the Outline of the Development Plan for the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), raising the development of the GBA urban agglomeration to a national strategy. An efficient technology transfer network is conducive to promoting the integrated and coordinated development and enhancing the scientific and technological innovation capabilities of the GBA urban agglomeration. Therefore, this study uses the patent transaction data for three years (2010, 2014, and 2018), integrates data mining, and uses complex network analysis, based on full-flow and net-flow networks, from the overall characteristics, network node strength, network association, network node importance, and network communities to reveal the structural characteristics and spatial patterns of the technology transfer network in the GBA. The results revealed that: (1) Technology transfer networks (full-flow and net-flow) in the GBA show heterogeneity. (2) Full-flow network presents a clear hierarchy within the GBA, showing a “two poles and two strong” pattern, and technology transfer has the same city preference; outside the GBA, there are close technology transfer regions that have technical and geographical proximity characteristics; the net-flow network presents a “one pole, two strong” pattern, and Guangzhou has become the core region of the net-flow network. (3) Connection objects of the technology transfer network have path dependence and spatial preference. Coexistence of concentration and decentralization characterizes the spatial flow. (4) Spatial distribution of the hub and authority of the technology transfer network is heterogeneous and hierarchical. Each city in the GBA has its own technological advantages. (5) Spatial clustering characteristics of the community within the technology transfer network are obvious. (6) The GBA is dominated by the transfer of patented technology in the high-tech industry, while the transfer of patented technology in the traditional manufacturing industry also plays an important role.

Highlights

The new economic growth theory suggests that technological progress has become an important driving force of modern economic growth [1]
The technology transfer network constructed by the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China included a full-flow network and a net-flow network in 2010, 2014, and 2018
The heterogeneity shown by the technology transfer network indicates that cities or provinces with weak technological innovation capabilities want to cooperate with those with strong technological innovation capabilities to improve themselves in this regard

Summary

Introduction

The new economic growth theory suggests that technological progress has become an important driving force of modern economic growth [1]. Owing to the uneven distribution of scientific and technological resources in different regions, cross-regional technology transfer has become an important way to achieve the flow and sharing of innovative resources; this promotes regional technological progress and economic growth [3,4]. The role of international technology transfer in driving national economic growth has become increasingly stronger [5]. Existing research shows that international technology transfer is an important way to achieve economic growth in developing countries [6,7,8,9,10]. The amount of technology imported from the outside of the “Belt and Road” countries (regions) increased from US $54,548.48 million in 2001–2005 to US $13,782.7048 million in 2011–2015 [12]

Methods

Results

Conclusion