Research on the Network Structure and Evolution of Spatial Distribution of Universities’ Cross-Regional Technology Transfer

Abstract

Universities are important components of national innovation systems. Their cross-regional technology transfer is of great importance for narrowing regional technology gaps and realizing collaborative innovation. Based on 2007-2016 patent assignment data of Chinese university, this paper investigates the network structure and evolution law of spatial distribution of universities’ cross-regional technology transfer through the social network analysis and GIS spatial analysis. Results show that: (1) Areas with abundant education resources have advantages at technology export, while economically developed areas have become the main target for technology import. In China, the development of technology export and import is generally imbalanced within a province; (2) In the evolution process of technology transfer structure, the dyadic relationship usually turn from a “strong-weak” relationship to a “strong-strong” one, and there exists a positive correlation between the equalization level of the nodes in the structure and the transfer level of universities’ technology; (3) The evolution of the spatial distribution of universities’ technology transfer demonstrates a trend of diffusion from core areas located on the south-east coast to inland areas. Provinces in the core areas can significantly promote the technology transfer level of surrounding provinces, and an obvious geographic feature is shown in the universities’ technology transfer between different areas.