Research exploration, collaborative partnerships, and scientific breakthrough: evidence from China’s State Key Laboratories

Tao Yi () and Chaoying Tang ()
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Tao Yi: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chaoying Tang: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Scientometrics, 2025, vol. 130, issue 8, No 10, 4423-4464

Abstract: Abstract State Key Laboratories (SKLs) play a pivotal role in achieving scientific breakthroughs. To clarify the influence mechanism of SKLs’ research explorations on their scientific breakthroughs, the impact of SKLs’ new topic exploration and interdisciplinary knowledge integration on their scientific breakthroughs were examined. Moreover, the collaborative partnerships’ moderating effects were analyzed. Specifically, the heterogeneity of SKLs’ collaborative partnerships may amplify the effect by offering diverse knowledge, and partnership stability may determine the effect due to knowledge inertia and cognitive rigidity. Empirical results based on the data of annual reports and publications from 185 Chinese SKLs from 2010 to 2022 supported the above hypotheses. The findings enrich the literature on scientific breakthroughs and offer insights into the research exploration and collaboration management of SKLs.

Keywords: Scientific breakthrough; Research exploration; New topic exploration; Interdisciplinary knowledge integration; Collaborative partnership (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-025-05389-w

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