Research collaboration beyond the boundary: Evidence from university patents in China |
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| Authors: | Jingbo Cui Tianqi Li Zhenxuan Wang |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Division of Social Sciences, Environmental Research Center, and Data Science Research Center, Duke Kunshan University, Kunshan, China;2. Department of Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;3. Nicholas School of the Environment and Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA |
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| Abstract: | Geographical distance constitutes friction in searching for research collaborators. Taking advantage of a quasinatural experiment featured by High-Speed Railway (HSR) lines in China, this paper employs the difference-in-differences model to identify the causal impact of a substantial improvement in the intercity transportation infrastructure on collaborative innovation across cities. The data pertain to a universe of patent applications filed by Chinese universities and their citations. We find that HSR contributes to a substantial increase in the innovation quantity and quality of collaborative patenting innovation between universities and corporates. It contributes to industry collaboration by utilizing university academic disciplines in the related technology fields. Lastly, HSR facilitates universities to search for new research partners with better quality beyond the geographical boundary. |
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| Keywords: | collaborative innovation high-speed railway patent university–industry collaboration |
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