Knowledge spillovers through human mobility across national borders: Evidence from Zhongguancun Science Park in China

Igor Filatotchev, Xiaohui Liu, Jiangyong Lu and Mike Wright

Research Policy, 2011, vol. 40, issue 3, 453-462

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of returnee entrepreneurs and their knowledge spillovers on innovation in high-tech firms in China. Using panel data for 1318 high-tech firms in Beijing Zhongguancun Science Park (ZSP) we find that returnee entrepreneurs create a significant spillover effect that promotes innovation in other local high-tech firms. The extent of this spillover effect is positively moderated by the non-returnee firm's absorptive capacity approximated by the skill level of employees. Multinational enterprises' R&D activities positively affect the innovation intensity of non-returnee firms only when these local firms possess the sufficient level of absorptive capacity. Our findings have important implications for policy-makers and practitioners.

Keywords: Returnee; entrepreneurs; Knowledge; spillovers; Skill; intensity; MNEs'; R&D; activities; Innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (88)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:40:y:2011:i:3:p:453-462

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