Community-level characteristics and member firms’ invention: evidence from university–industry innovation community in China

Wenjing Wang and Yiwei Liu ()
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Wenjing Wang: Central University of Finance and Economics
Yiwei Liu: Central University of Finance and Economics

Scientometrics, 2021, vol. 126, issue 11, No 6, 8913-8934

Abstract: Abstract Increased attention has been drawn to the phenomenon of community-based innovation; however, researchers have mainly emphasized firm-centric communities, paying little attention to non-firm members. This study focuses on university–industry (U–I) innovation communities to address this gap. Using China’s joint patent application data from 2000 to 2017, we construct a U–I collaboration network, identified existing U–I innovation communities, and reveal community-level characteristics of birth, expansion, maturity, and self-renewal in a lifecycle framework. The results suggest that average geographical distance negatively affects firm invention production and within-community knowledge diversity positively affects firm innovation. The effects of dynamic attributes indicate that U–I community membership turnover affects member firm’s patent production in an inverse U-shaped manner. In addition, a firm’s within-community network position exerts a moderating effect on the relation between community membership dynamics and firm innovation. In theoretical terms, this study combines innovation community and social network theories, using a lifecycle framework to examine the influence of the specified characteristics in facilitating member firms’ invention productivity. Finally, this study discusses the practical implications for U–I community stakeholders and policymakers.

Keywords: University–industry collaboration; Network community; Geographical distance; Knowledge diversity; Membership turnover (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-021-04157-w

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