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Small-world network effects on innovation: evidences from nanotechnology patenting

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Abstract

This paper explores the effects of collaboration network on innovation in nanotechnology. We extend the idea of small-world to the heterogeneous network positions of actors by capturing the variation of how closely a given actor is connected to others in the same network and how clustered its neighbors are. We test the effects of small-world network in the context of nanotechnology patenting in China. Empirical results reveal that small-worldness, or the co-existence of high clustering and low path length in the network, displays inverse U-shape relationships with future patent output of the individual inventors and the system. Interestingly, the inflection point of the nonlinear relationship is significantly higher at the individual level. Based on these findings, we suggest that researchers of nanotechnology maintain a balance between friends in close-knit inner circles and colleagues in distant areas in their collaboration decisions and that policymakers interested in furthering the field offer collaboration opportunities for researchers in distant locations and areas.

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Notes

  1. This is a very general situation: for a given node in a connected network, any new tie between nodes that are not its neighbors may shorten its path length in certain cases but will not change the clustering of the given node,

  2. We checked the distribution of the actual value of small-worldness and confirmed that theoretical threshold values on both values can be achieved.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 71673261, 71373254 and 71540034) and from The Research Team of Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province in China (2016A030312005). The authors are very grateful for the valuable comments and suggestions from two anonymous reviewers and Editor of the journal, which significantly improved the quality of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Yuan Shi

  2. School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    JianCheng Guan

  3. School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, PR, People’s Republic of China

    JianCheng Guan

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  1. Yuan Shi
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Correspondence to JianCheng Guan.

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Shi, Y., Guan, J. Small-world network effects on innovation: evidences from nanotechnology patenting. J Nanopart Res 18, 329 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3637-1

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