On the role of online communication in shaping innovation spatial patterns: new evidence amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Shuo Yang (), Tianheng Shu () and Xia Liao ()
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Shuo Yang: School of Architecture, Tsinghua University
Tianheng Shu: School of Architecture, Tsinghua University
Xia Liao: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, 2025, vol. 18, issue 1, No 7, 28 pages

Abstract: Abstract This empirical study compares the effects of face-to-face (F2F) and online communication in driving innovation output at the regional level under the traffic constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, to examine whether innovation can overcome spatial barriers through online communication. We first developed an empirical model that attributes co-patent innovation output growth to physical communication, online communication, and other related factors. Our findings indicate that online communication can partially substitute offline interactions, though not as effectively. The analysis of spatial changes in innovation during the pandemic reveals two main evolutions: localization and polarization. These shifts in innovation behavior are primarily driven by communication dynamics, highlighting the proximity of F2F communication and the concentration of online communication interactions. Our results suggest that innovation clusters and networks will persist in shaping spatial patterns of innovation. This study offers important insights for enterprises, emphasizing the ongoing role of F2F communication in fostering innovation. It also provides a new explanation for the lower effectiveness of videoconferencing compared to F2F interactions, particularly in real-world settings beyond controlled experiments.

Keywords: Innovation; Online communication; Face-to-face; Spatial pattern; Knowledge spillover; R11; O31; D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s12076-025-00401-6

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