Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Collaborative Innovation Network in Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration and Its Impact on Regional Innovation Efficiency
The Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration is designated by the national government as an innovation highland in central and western China, and thus plays a pivotal role in the country’s innovation-driven development. However, research on collaborative-innovation mechanisms in the western region, and particularly on their economic consequences, remains scant. This paper analyzes 2015-2024 joint publications data from 24 administrative regions within the Chengdu-Chongqing cluster to examine the spatiotemporal evolution of its collaborative-innovation network and its impact on regional innovation efficiency. Using social-network analysis, we find that over the past decade the network’s density has increased significantly, the average path length has shortened, and the clustering coefficient has remained stable—forming a “high-density, short-path, moderate-agglomeration” structure. Degree centralization first rose and then fell, indicating a maturing network. In terms of innovation efficiency, the cluster exhibits a “effective first and then ineffective”. Regression results show that network density correlates positively with regional innovation efficiency, whereas centralization and average path length correlate negatively. Based on these findings, we propose strategic measures to optimize the Chengdu-Chongqing collaborative-innovation network for enhanced efficiency.
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