Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Urban Innovation Networks: A Case Study of the Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

Li Liu, Jin Luo, Xin Xiao, Bisong Hu, Shuhua Qi, Hui Lin and Xiaofang Zu
Additional contact information
Li Liu: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Jin Luo: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Xin Xiao: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Bisong Hu: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Shuhua Qi: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Hui Lin: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China
Xiaofang Zu: School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, China

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Understanding the evolutionary characteristics of innovation network structure can improve urban innovation and regional construction. Urban innovative development is affected by various factors, which can be analyzed via models of innovation networks. We establish a multi-criteria evaluation system of innovation capability and use an improved gravity model to construct an innovation network for 2015–2018, employing social network methods to analyze structural characteristics and spatial patterns. Results show that: (1) The innovation of cities in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River has gradually increased, with an accompanying increase in the complexity of innovation networks. The cities of Wuhan, Changsha, and Nanchang are located at the absolute core of this network, which exhibits a Matthew effect, and has a triangle integration mode of growth. (2) The attraction of innovative resources and the promotion of individual innovation are increasing every year within the cities. The aggregation pattern of innovation shows a multi-core state in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, but the innovation radiation pattern has changed from a single center to a double center. (3) Multiple spatial innovation axes are seen in the network, with a location and direction consistent with the urban agglomeration’s development axis in the Yangtze River’s middle reaches and a triangle integration growth mode. Policy implications are proposed for regional innovation and development, and our results can provide future policy guidance and direction for governmental entities and other stakeholders.

Keywords: innovation network; network structure; spatiotemporal evolution; urban agglomeration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/597/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/5/597/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:597-:d:796915

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().