How does distant collaboration influence R&D quality?

ABSTRACT

Geographical distance plays a key role in R&D collaboration for technological development. The relationship between geographical collaboration distance and technological development has been a key topic in innovation studies. However, how geographical distance in relation to R&D collaboration influences technological development quality has not been explored holistically or systematically. Thus, this study used patent-based measures to explore how spatial distance between inventors influences R&D output quality by employing three technology-related proxies, i.e. originality, generality, and innovation. It is found that geographic distance between collaborators has a significant and positive effect on originality, generality, and innovation. This paper contributes to understanding the underlying impact on technological development and provides researchers with a more thorough understanding of the spatial distance trajectory of technological innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• Distance
• originality
• generality
• patent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [Grant Number MOST 108-2410-H-009-024-MY2].

Notes on contributors

Hsin-Ning Su

Hsin-Ning Su is an Associate Professor of Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. He received Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and M.S. in Chemistry from National Taiwan University. His research interests are Science and Technology Policy, Innovation Management, Intellectual Property Management, Patent Big Data, aiming to understand evolutionary mechanism of Sci-Tech development and contribute to national level technology management.