Change of knowledge base and the driving mechanism of innovation cooperation in resource-based cities

• Published in: Zi yuan ke xue Vol. 46; no. 10; pp. 1912 - 1929
• Main Authors: Xiao, YAN, Suping, REN, Jianjun, TU
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: Science Press, PR China 01-10-2024
• Subjects: knowledge base|characteristics of evolution|innovation cooperation|two-way fixed effects model|resource-based cities
• ISSN: 1007-7588
• DOI: 10.18402/resci.2024.10.02

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the pattern of change of knowledge base in resource-based cities and analyze the driving effect of innovation cooperation, so as to provide some guidance for these type of areas to develop new quality productivity in accordance with local conditions and break their path dependency. [Methods] Based on a sample of 90 resource-based cities at the prefecture level, this study investigated the dynamic change process of knowledge base from the perspectives of scale, quality, structure, and branching, and examined the driving effect of innovation cooperation from local, cross-city and transnational spatial scales, using the data of invention patent applications from 2001 to 2021. [Results] (1) The scale of knowledge grew rapidly and non-linearly. The breadth and depth of knowledge changed inversely, with the former increasing and the latter decreasing. Dominant knowledge distributed in clusters and showed a clear orientation towards natural resources. The related and unrelated diversification of knowledge evolved synergistically, and the position of a city in the diversification Boston matrix was determined by its life cycle stage, geographical location, and resource endowments. Knowledge branching was dominated by new knowledge entry, which had significant features of unrelated diversification and touched on advanced frontier areas. Each dimension of the knowledge base showed the same differentiation pattern of regenerating city > mature city > declining city > growing city, eastern city > central city > western city > northeast city, and mineral city > other types > forestry city. Each dimension index of resource-based cities’ knowledge deviated from the national average significantly. Specifically, knowledge breadth, unrelated diversification, and related diversification showed a catch-up trend, while the gaps in other dimensions tended to widen. (3) Innovation cooperation was becoming increasingly more frequent, and the cooperation partners evolved from level I city (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen) dominant to a multi-level balanced mode. Transnational cooperation inhibited knowledge diversification, cross-city cooperation promoted knowledge branching, and only level I cross-city cooperation enhanced knowledge uniqueness slightly. Local cooperation enhanced the activity of knowledge branching, but was not conducive to the improvement of knowledge quality and structure. [Conclusion] Although the knowledge base of resource-based cities was gradually consolidated, knowledge quality is still low, knowledge structure is still poor, and new knowledge is still difficult to enter. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen local capacity, coordinate local and cross-city cooperation, promote the mutual development of industry and knowledge, and pay more attention to the relationship between related and unrelated diversification of knowledge.