The impact of institutional difference on scientific collaboration: Empirical evidence from six provinces in central China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on dividing institutional difference into formal institutional difference and informal institutional difference, this study explores the impact of institutional difference on scientific collaboration of six provinces in central China and analyses the moderating effect of provincial innovation environment and provincial research and development capacity using panel data from 2010 to 2019. The study finds that both formal institutional difference and informal institutional difference negatively affect scientific collaboration of six provinces in central China. Moreover, provincial innovation environment and provincial research and development capacity moderate the relationship between institutional difference and scientific collaboration of six provinces in central China. That is, in the context of good provincial innovation environment or high research and development capacity, the negative impact of institutional difference on scientific collaboration of six provinces in central China is stronger.