Regional Innovation Networks Research Articles

Evolution of regional collaborative innovation network by the ‘two-wheel drive' of external proximity and endogenous gravity

ABSTRACT Collaborative innovation is the key support for promoting high-quality regional development. Taking Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang coastal city clusters as an example, this paper analyzes the evolution mechanism of collaborative innovation network based on the ‘two-wheel drive' perspective of external proximity and endogenous gravity. The results show that the difference of resource control ability among nodes in the network is decreasing, and the inverted ‘V’ structure with Xiamen and Putian as the main apex has evolved into a more robust ‘dual core’ (Fuzhou-Xiamen) radiation-type spatial structure. In addition, the evolution of regional collaborative innovation network is driven by ‘two wheels’. In external proximity, institutional proximity plays the strongest role in promoting, followed by geographical proximity, and the promoting role of technological proximity is gradually weakened. In the endogenous gravity, the influence of investment in science and education is strengthening, while the influence of the administrative level is declining.

Модель интеграции педагогического вуза в региональную инновационную сетевую инфраструктуру

Раскрыты значение и особенности, представлена общая характеристика педагогической интеграции, рассмотрен перечень показателей, свидетельствующих об интегрированности современного педагогического вуза в инновационную инфраструктуру региональной системы образования. Дано описание авторской модели интеграции педагогического вуза в региональную инновационную сетевую инфраструктуру, построенной с учётом специфики системы образования Краснодарского края. Существенное внимание уделено характеристике формализованного и инициативного форматов интеграции. При описании модели актуализированы основные субъекты её реализации, направления взаимодействия и практические мероприятия, обеспечивающие интеграционные процессы, раскрыты возможности использования ресурсов педагогического вуза и инновационной инфраструктуры региональной системы образования. Указаны ожидаемые эффекты для современной системы образования от реализации авторской модели. The meaning, features and general characteristics of pedagogical integration are revealed, a list of indicators is considered that indicate the integration of a modern pedagogical university into the innovative infrastructure of the regional education system. A description of the author's model for integrating a pedagogical university into a regional innovative network infrastructure, built taking into account the specifics of the education system of the Krasnodar Territory, is given. Significant attention is paid to the characteristics of formalized and initiative formats of integration. When describing the model, the main subjects of its implementation, areas of interaction and practical measures that ensure integration processes are updated and the possibilities of using the resources of a pedagogical university and the innovative infrastructure of the regional education system are revealed. The expected effects for the modern education system from the implementation of the author's model are indicated.

The Influence of Structure Heterogeneity on Resilience in Regional Innovation Networks

The presence of structure heterogeneity in regional innovation networks reflects the complexity and diversity of knowledge diffusion and collaborative R& D relationships. This article introduces a network model based on the multiple systems generating functions mathematical algorithm to analyze the resilience of interacting networks under different link patterns. The percolation threshold is illustrated at two different levels: the subcritical and supercritical states. The algorithm is then tested on both simulated networks and real-world networks. The results of the simulation study highlight the crucial role of linking between sub-networks and emphasize the effectiveness of a moderate degree protection strategy.

Challenge-oriented Development in a Regional Innovation Network: A Case Study from the State of Hesse in Germany

Challenge-oriented Development in a Regional Innovation Network: A Case Study from the State of Hesse in Germany

Study on the Regional Innovation Network of Pearl River Delta City Cluster and Its Factor Analysis

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) city cluster is a national key development area with favorable geographical conditions, and the construction of a regional innovation network will help enhance the economic vitality of the region and the corresponding comprehensive competitiveness, and the PRD city cluster is accelerating the construction of an international science and technology innovation center with global influence. The purpose of this paper is to study the innovation network of the PRD city cluster and to explore the key factors of the regional innovation network using factor analysis. The study proposes the main components of the regional innovation network of the Pearl River Delta city cluster, analyzes them by factor analysis, and finally puts forward suggestions or recommendations.

The Study of Regional Innovation Network Structure: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration

As a driving force for regional development, innovation holds an increasing position in regional competitiveness, and a reasonable and coordinated innovation network structure can promote high-quality regional development. Utilizing the modified gravity model and social network analysis method, an innovation network composed of 27 cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2021 was studied. The following conclusions were founded: (1) The innovation development level in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration was constantly improving, and the innovation development level generally showed a spatial pattern of high in the southeast and low in the northwest. (2) The intensity and density of innovation network correlations in urban agglomerations were increasing, and the centrality of network nodes had an obvious hierarchical characteristic. The innovation network had a significant core–periphery spatial structure, with core cities that had higher centrality, such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou, playing the role of “intermediaries” and “bridges”, while cities with lower centrality, such as Anhui and cities in northern Jiangsu, generally played the role of “periphery actors” in the network. (3) The spatial correlation network of innovation of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration could be divided into four blocks, namely, main benefit, broker, two-way spillover, and net spillover, and the spillover effect among them had obvious gradient characteristics of hierarchy.

Regional innovation networks & high-growth entrepreneurship

We investigate the influence of regional innovation networks (RINs) on high-growth entrepreneurship within the framework of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship (KSTE). While previous studies have separately examined RINs' role in knowledge diffusion and the geographical characteristics of high-growth firms, the connection between these two areas remains unexplored. To address this gap, we develop a conceptual model that highlights the positive impact of RINs on high-growth entrepreneurship, moderated by regional entrepreneurial capital. Using a unique longitudinal dataset at the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level, we employ two-way fixed effects and instrumental variables regressions to analyze the data. Our findings support the conceptual model, revealing that robust RINs facilitate high-growth entrepreneurship. Additionally, we conduct post-hoc exploratory analyses to investigate potential moderating factors, including the influence of the public policy environment.

Local context of local government participation in the innovation networks: Evidence from Poland

Abstract Innovation networks help to create innovation ecosystems by strengthen interactions between government, academia, business, and special institutions. The purpose of the article is to identify the relationship between the local context, i.e., the conditions and environment in which the Local Government Unit operates and their participation in the innovation networks. The analysis is based on a survey of 184 local government authorities in Poland, Local Administrative Unit level 2. The present study examines the hypothesis that the more supportive the local context is in the Polish municipalities and cities on district rights, the greater the engagement of local government authorities in local or regional innovation networks. The supportive local context was defined by a set of institutional, economic, geographical, demographic, cultural, political, managerial, and administrative factors. The research findings indicate that the key factors that influence the engagement of local government in local or regional innovation networks are institutional factors.

Applying A 'Mentor-Protégé Approach to Broadening Participation of HBCUs in the National Innovation Network

Innovation is one of the most important drivers of economic growth, yet only 8% of minorities, 12% of women, and < 0.05% of African Americans are recognized as innovators. However, a comprehensive analysis of nearly all doctoral dissertations from 1977 to 2015 shows that although individuals from under-represented minority groups demonstrated greater scientific innovation, their contributions are rarely further adopted compared to equally impactful contributions by majority groups. In this instance "rarely further adopted," as noted by Hofstra et al. (1), means that the "novel contributions by gender and racial minorities are taken up by other scholars at lower rates than novel contributions by gender and racial majorities, and equally impactful contributions of gender and racial minorities are less likely to result in successful scientific careers than for majority groups." Access to the wealth of potential innovations — going largely unnoticed and underutilized — from under-represented minority groups can be achieved, in part, by engaging science and engineering students, faculty, and staff at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in entrepreneurship through the use of the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) curriculum with adaptations to fit the education and research environments at HBCUs. A consortium of three North Carolina universities and the NYC Regional Innovation Network (NYCRIN) I-Corps Node established a partnership developing a specialized Lean LaunchPad training program for HBCU students, faculty, and staff. Implementation followed a three-step train-the-trainers 'mentor-protégé model, where new instructors 'see one, do one, be one' while learning to deliver the curriculum. The overarching goals of this initiative are to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in broadening participation in I-Corps and mainstreaming the innovation capacities of HBCUs. The authors include instructors from the collaborating institutions, who trained and served as the teaching team for regional and national cohorts. Included are the rationale for creating the program, partnership selection, instructor and team recruitment, best practices for the 'mentor-protégé model, and outcomes for the cohorts. This contribution is a unique opportunity for other faculty to learn from practitioners about the challenges and successes involved in creating such a new multi-institutional entrepreneurship training paradigm.

Alternative routes to HiAP implementation

Abstract From a public health political science perspective there are alternative routes to HiAP. Besides the ‘classic’ HiAP approach seeking government internal departmental alignments, facilitating and rewarding bottom up social initiatives by communities, or marketed health innovations by commercial health-related consultancies and enterprises, and regional (socio-) economic innovation networks that after a developmental stage can start to pressure multi-level governments for action. A final route lies along the litigation path (Think of climate agreements and governments being held accountable by the judiciary to comply with agreed emissions reductions etc.)

The Modal Analysis of Multifactor Coupling of Regional Industrial Innovation

In order to maintain the sustainable development of resource-based industrial clusters, research on the coupling relationship between resource-based industrial clusters and regional innovation networks is proposed. Combined with the historical data of 11 typical resource-based cities from 2013 to 2021, the grey relational model is used to measure the correlation between resource-based clusters and regional innovation networks. And the concept of capacity coupling and the capacity coupling coefficient model in physics is used as a reference to obtain the coupling degree model of resource-based industrial clusters and regional innovation networks. The coupling degree model is used to measure the coupling degree of the two, and a reasonable analysis is carried out on the result of the measurement. The results show that there is a correlation between resource-based industrial clusters and regional innovation networks. And the correlation between the two is above 0.65, indicating a strong correlation. The coupling between resource-based industrial clusters and regional innovation networks has entered the subsequent high-level coupling stage from the run-in coupling stage that began in 2013 and continues to maintain a high-level coupling. It is pointed out that cluster governance plans should be formulated according to regional differences and local conditions, so as to guide the transformation and upgrading of resource-based industrial clusters and to avoid the negative impact on the regional economy due to resource exhaustion.

Member-care leadership in regional innovation networks: caring for single members – a hidden process?

Although MSMEs are expected to benefit the most from participating in collaborative innovation, they often struggle to gain these benefits. This study contributes knowledge about how to reduce the barriers. Three regional innovation networks were studied primarily through semi-structured interviews. They were formal networks, and the tourism sector was the main industry. Data analysis followed the grounded theory. A hidden but essential practice of network orchestration is constructed, i.e. ‘member-care leadership.’ Involving the subpractices of empathizing, engaging, and supervising single members’ to increase value from participating in the network. In particular, member-care leadership enables MSMEs to prioritize and carry out network activities and innovation at and between network gatherings. The care subpractices are interdependent, dynamic, and relational. The practice triggered learning and innovation within the enterprises and increased the enterprises ‘of-gathering activity’, knowledge sharing, and performance at the network level. This suggests that innovation network literature should take a humanistic and relational approach to orchestration. The study also provides an understanding of how network-driven innovation involves multileveled and dynamic processes, with orchestration and activity at the enterprise and network levels and between these levels. A policy implication is that member-care leadership should be acknowledged and allocated human and economic resources.

New regional industrial path development and innovation networks in times of economic crisis

ABSTRACT This paper presents novel research on how exogenous shocks and economic crises affect innovation, knowledge networks, and new path development in regions. Conceptually, we take a regional innovation systems perspective which views new path development as the outcome of innovation and knowledge exchange between firms and other actors, facilitated by a common institutional framework. Empirically, we draw on interviews and network data from the oil and gas industry in southern Norway. Following a long period of prosperity, the industry was hit by the oil price shock in 2014 and entered an economic crisis. The findings suggest that the shock triggered the firms to commit even more forcefully to innovation and to expand their knowledge networks geographically. To cope with the crisis, they applied a variety of strategies, which can be associated with different forms of path development. We draw conclusions for innovation policy in the context of exogenous shocks and crises.

Roads to innovation: Evidence from Italy

AbstractIn this study, we leverage on the ancient Roman roads network as a source of exogenous variation to identify the causal effect of the modern highways network on innovative performance of Italian NUTS‐3 regions. Empirical findings suggest that a 10% increase in the highways stock in a region generates an increase in the number of patents of about 3%–4%, over a 5‐year period. Further analysis suggests that our findings can in part be explained by a reduction in travel costs that fosters collaborations among inventors living in different regions and by an increase in the degree of centrality in the regional innovation network associated to denser highways networks. Finally, we find that the innovation‐enhancing effect of highways declines over time, possibly because of the introduction of information and communication technology, or the increasing congestion on the Italian network.

Gatekeepers in regional innovation networks: Evidence from an emerging economy

Gatekeepers in regional innovation networks: Evidence from an emerging economy

Analysis of China’s Urban Innovation Connection Network Evolution: A Case Study of Henan Province

The research on urban innovation links is of great significance for revealing the structural characteristics of innovation space. At the same time, it is of great significance for formulating regional innovation development strategies. Based on statistics from 2008, 2013 and 2018, the time and spatial characteristics of the urban innovation contact network evolution in Henan Province were investigated using the entropy weight and gravity-model method. The results show that the overall pattern of the regional innovation network in Henan Province is radial, with the characteristics of a “core edge”. It shows that it radiates to the surrounding cities with Zhengzhou as the core. From the perspective of time evolution, the radiation range and intensity of the innovation center city have changed to varying degrees and the overall radiation pattern has not significantly changed. From the perspective of spatial evolution, the evolution of Henan Province’s innovation network presents the following development trends. The central and southern regions developed rapidly, and the western, northern and eastern regions developed slowly.

A multi-agent knowledge integration process for enterprise management innovation from the perspective of neural network

Because the innovation level of enterprise clusters in various regions of China is generally low, this research is focused on the process of knowledge integration of regional innovation subjects. We research, explore and analyze the different connection states between nodes and their impact on the knowledge symbiosis or knowledge spillover ability of the entire innovation network, learn from the characteristics of neurons in the neural network and the information transmission model to investigate the connection between various nodes in innovation network. We then determine the knowledge association mechanism and transmission relationship, and then analyze the trigger conditions of fusion and the transformation model of innovative knowledge flow under this condition, laying the foundation for further theoretical or practical research. Second, we built a model of the knowledge transfer connection that will be used in the innovation process. and select a path of knowledge transfer. Based on the mechanism of multi-agent innovation, we analyzed the incentive relationship of knowledge transfer in the innovation process, constructed the principles of knowledge transfer, analyzed the mutual transfer relationship between different innovation nodes, and analyze the simulation innovation network through certain examples. The knowledge fusion process in China lays the foundation for the improvement of the overall collaborative innovation level of the regional multi-agent innovation network. From the overall structure of the article, this research analyzes the regional innovation network from a new perspective on the basis of domestic and foreign research in knowledge flow management and control technology, knowledge exchange under social networks, and neural network optimization algorithms. The process of knowledge symbiosis or knowledge spillover in the process of innovation, exploring the incentive relationship of knowledge transfer throughout the primary parts innovation process, optimizing the degree of connection or relationship between different main agents, optimizing the knowledge exchange relationship from one node in the innovation network to another and improving the collaborative innovation of the regional mesh lay a theoretical foundation for the level.

How financial development scale and R&D influence regional innovation efficiency: empirical evidence from the financial industry.

Financial elements and R&D elements are significant drivers for enhancing regional innovation efficiency. This paper measures financial elements by financial development scale and the marketization level of the financial industry and R&D elements by the inputs and flow of R&D personnel and R&D capital and specifically considers R&D element flow to quantify the consequential spatial spillover effects. Based on provincial panel data from 2008 to 2018, the paper firstly estimates the regional innovation efficiency of China’s 30 provincial-level administrative regions using super-efficiency DEA and then conducts an empirical analysis of the influence of financial elements and R&D elements on regional innovation efficiency by the use of the Tobit model and three spatial econometric models. It is found that, by and large, the financial development scale, the marketization level of the financial industry, the inputs of R&D personnel and R&D capital, and R&D capital flow all have significant effects on regional innovation efficiency. Nonetheless, by region, R&D personnel flow in central China can significantly boost regional innovation efficiency while fails in eastern and western China. From the spatial perspective, both financial elements and R&D elements have significant positive spatial spillover effects. Therefore, in order to bolster regional innovation efficiency, it is crucial to improve the allocation of financial elements and R&D elements and build a tight regional collaborative innovation network.

Optimal path selection of innovation resource allocation in China’s regions with shared inputs

As an effective form of interaction between innovation subjects and resources, the regional innovation network’s optimal allocation of resources is the key to improving national innovation capacity. According to the innovation value chain, the process of resource allocation in innovation can be divided into two correlative sub-systems: the knowledge innovation stage (KIS) and the achievements commercialisation stage (ACS). To evaluate regional innovation efficiency, a two-stage network data envelopment analysis model with shared inputs is used, with fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to analyse the improvement path of resource allocation efficiency from the dimensions of regional environment and network structure. The results show that efficiency in the KIS is higher than in the ACS, and the efficiency scores for most regions in China are better under the model with shared inputs. The efficiency of innovative resource allocation is affected by the cross-action of seven factors: regional economic development, infrastructure, policy system, social culture, network scale, network openness, and network centrality. To achieve high-efficiency resource allocation, regions should build an innovation network that matches their environmental characteristics. These findings provide theoretical guidance for formulating innovative resource allocation policies suitable for different regions.

Innovation Networks & High-Growth Entrepreneurship

We explore the role of regional innovation networks (RINs) in facilitating high-growth entrepreneurship (HGE). Building on the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship, we theorize that RINs serve as a conduit for the spillovers of complex knowledge from inventors who create it to entrepreneurs who seek to exploit it through the creation of innovative ventures. We further theorize that the relationship is stronger in regions with stronger external innovation networks, more entrepreneurs, and greater venture capital availability. Using a novel longitudinal dataset covering 358 U.S. MSAs over period 2003-2014, we find evidence that RINs can be crucial for spurring high-growth potential ventures, and that the effect of RINs on HGE is conditional on the entrepreneur rate.