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Research Article

High-speed rail heading for innovation: the impact of HSR on intercity technology transfer

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Pages 293-311 | Received 20 Apr 2021, Accepted 25 Oct 2021, Published online: 18 Jan 2022
 

ABSTRACT

This study examines the impact of China’s high-speed rail (HSR) network on regional innovation cooperation examining the impact on intercity patent rights transactions in 2016 between 81,510 city-pairs. It shows that (1) China’s intercity technology transfer network assumes a national-scale ‘diamond structure’; (2) China’s HSR network had a robust positive effect on intercity technology transfer; and (3) these impacts are direct and indirect operating through impacts on geographical proximity, industrial proximity, innovative proximity and technology complementarity. These findings broaden our understanding of the association between transport infrastructure and innovation networks in large emerging economies.

摘要

驶向创新的高速铁路:高铁对城际技术转移的影响. Area Development and Policy. 本研究基于2016年81,510个城市对的城际专利权交易数据, 识别了中国高铁网络对区域创新合作的影响。研究发现: (1) 在全国尺度上, 中国城际技术转移网络呈现出‘菱形结构’的空间分布特征; (2) 中国高铁网络对城际技术转移有正向影响并表现出稳健的结果; (3) 高铁的影响可分为直接影响和间接影响, 其中间接影响表现为通过影响地理邻近性, 产业邻近性, 创新邻近性和技术互补性而产生的影响。本研究为进一步理解大型新兴经济体中交通基础设施与创新网络之间的关联性提供了新证据。

RESUMEN

El ferrocarril de alta velocidad se dirige hacia la innovación: impacto de la red HSR en la transferencia tecnológica interurbana Area Development and Policy. En este estudio se examina qué efecto tuvo la red ferroviaria de alta velocidad (HSR) de China en la cooperación regional para la innovación mediante un análisis de su impacto en las transacciones interurbanas de los derechos de patentes en 2016 entre 81.510 pares de ciudades. Se muestra que (1) la red de transferencia tecnológica interurbana de China supone una ‘estructura de diamante’ a escala nacional; (2) la red HSR de China tuvo un fuerte efecto positivo en la transferencia interurbana de tecnología; y (3) estos impactos son operaciones directas e indirectas a través de repercusiones en la proximidad geográfica, proximidad industrial, proximidad innovadora y complementariedad tecnológica. Con estos resultados entendemos iste la asociación entre la infraestructura de transporte y las redes de istemaón en grandes economías emergentes.

Аннотация

Высокоскоростная железная дорога, направляющаяся к инновациям: влияние HSR на междугороднюю передачу технологий. Area Development and Policy. В этом исследовании рассматривается влияние сети высокоскоростных железных дорог Китая (high-speed rail – HSR) на региональное инновационное сотрудничество, взаимосвязь сделок по патентным правам между городами в 2016 году между 81 510 городскими парами. Показано, что (1) сеть передачи технологий между городами Китая предполагает ‘алмазную структуру’ национального масштаба; (2) сеть HSR Китая оказала сильное положительное влияние на передачу технологий между городами; (3) эти воздействия являются прямыми и косвенными, воздействующими через географическую близость, промышленную близость, инновационную близость и взаимодополняемость технологий. Эти выводы расширяют наше понимание связи между транспортной инфраструктурой и инновационными сетями в крупных развивающихся экономиках.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. According to China’s Medium and Long-term Railway Network Planning, China’s considerations relating to poverty and national defence played a role in the construction of the HSR. Thus, HSR has served underdeveloped as well as developed cities (Chen & Haynes, Citation2017; Xiao & Lin, Citation2021; Zhu et al., Citation2019).

2. Another reason for using 2013 data is data limitation.

5. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are known as China’s first-tier cities.

6. Sources:The Concise Historical Atlas of China’s Transport Network (Wang et al., Citation2018) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Global Digital Elevation Model (http://gdem.ersdac.jspacesystems.or.jp/).

7. Source: Baidu map (https://map.baidu.com/).

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the Major Program of National Fund of Philosophy and Social Science of China [grant number 20&ZD099].

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