Abstract:

Using patent application data and cities’ economic characteristics, we investigate the causal relationship between collaborative innovation and the regional development gap. Our empirical results indicate that collaborative innovation helps reduce economic disparities between regions. This effect is most pronounced in central and western cities, inland cities, cities dominated by tertiary industries, and prefectures within urban agglomerations. However, cities with higher levels of economic disparity have not experienced significant benefits from the coordinated effect caused by collaborative innovation. Mechanism analysis reveals that this positive effect primarily stems from the enhancement of innovation capabilities, reduction of regional innovation disparities, and improvements in regional total factor productivity. Additionally, collaborative innovation fosters connections between cities, boosts market integration, optimizes resource allocation, and advances industrial specialization, all of which leads to the reduction of the regional economic development gap. Nonetheless, collaborative innovation has not effectively promoted the interprovincial flow of R&D funds and talents, further efforts are needed to strengthen regional economic development.

Key words: collaborative innovation, cross-regional collaboration, regional coordinated development, economic development gap