How Does Digital Technology Reshape the Boundaries of Intercity Innovation Collaboration? Evidence From China

Shufen Guo, Ludi Wen, Yanrui Wu and Sandun C. Perera

Journal of Regional Science, 2025, vol. 65, issue 5, 1379-1400

Abstract: Empirical studies have rarely explored the relationship between digital technology adoption and transregional innovation collaboration at the city level. To address this important research gap, we use the negative binomial regression model to identify the impact of digital technology adoption on intercity innovation collaboration, with particular emphasis on the reshaping effect of digital technology on geographical and city hierarchical boundaries. The panel data pertains to intercity co‐patents spanning the period from 2012 to 2019 in China. Our findings show that digital technology adoption significantly enhances intercity innovation collaboration. The positive relationship becomes even stronger as the geographical distance between cities increases. Furthermore, digital technology adoption strengthens innovation collaboration not only among first‐tier cities but also between first‐tier cities with second‐ and third‐tier cities. These results suggest that digital technology can effectively bridge geographical distances and break city hierarchies to a limited extent. These insights can inspire policymakers to harness the power of digital technology to reshape the boundaries of intercity innovation collaboration for inclusive regional development.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/jors.70007

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:bla:jregsc:v:65:y:2025:i:5:p:1379-1400

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0022-4146

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Regional Science is currently edited by Marlon G. Boarnet, Matthew Kahn and Mark D. Partridge

More articles in Journal of Regional Science from Wiley Blackwell
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().