Firm size affecting efficiency of production and commercialization of knowledge: embedded in cluster development

ABSTRACT

This study examines the impact of platform innovation on the efficiency of firms located in different clusters. The sample contains data for 1,257 firms from 2005 to 2015 in Beijing’s Zhongguancun Science Park, which is known as China’s ‘Silicon Valley’. Using the DEA model to gauge the efficiency of each firm over time, we found that firm size has a significantly negative correlation with knowledge production efficiency, a significantly positive correlation with its knowledge commercialisation efficiency, and an inverted-U shaped relationship with overall efficiency. We then explored the mediating effect of firm size on the relationship between the characteristics of clusters and firm efficiency, before concluding with both managerial and academic implications.

KEYWORDS:

• cluster’s lifecycle
• cluster’s industrial concentration
• China
• Chinese firm size
• Chinese firm efficiency

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Yawen Li (PhD) is an assistant professor in Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications whose major research interests are open innovation and firm alliance.

Zhou Zhong (PhD) is an associate professor in Tsinghua University whose research interests are education and training.

Jiancheng Guan (PhD) is a professor in University of Chinese Academy of Sciences whose major research interest is innovation management.

Jinyi Zhou (PhD) is a lecturer in Univeristy of Science and Technology Beijing whose major research interest is organizational behavior.

Jizhen Li (PhD) is an associate professor in Tsinghua University whose major research interest is technology innovation.

ORCID

Jizhen Li http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1940-5633

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Tsinghua University Institute for China Sustainable Urbanization [grant number TUCSU-K-17024-01]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71772103]; China Ministry of Science and Technology [grant number 2017ZG-002].