Typology and Knowledge Productivity of Regional Innovation System: Evidence from China

Meng-chun Liu, Jiann-Chyuan Wang, Ming-Tse Wu
(Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, Taipei, Taiwan)

Abstract: Through depicting a typology of regions, the study intends to capture the diversity of regional innovation systems across China. Based on the theories of Regional Innovation Systems (RIS), we select several variables related to the capabilities of a region regarding generate, to absorb, and to diffuse the knowledge generation, absorption, and diffusion, and its capacity about the commercialization of the R&D outcomes. The contribution of this paper is twofold. First of all, it provides the RIS typology for China’s regions more completely using a large number of variables related to innovative indicators. Second, the conclusions obtained from the analysis may be used to lead policymakers’ actions in the field of regional innovation policies from the evidence from China’s regions with the industrial and technological perspective.

Key words: China; economic freedom; regional S&T reform; regional knowledge productivity

JEL code: O32