Coordinated Development of Innovation System in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt, a Demand and Supply Perspective

Data-Driven Coupling Coordination Development of Regional Innovation EROB Composite System: An Integrated Model Perspective

To promote coupling coordination development for regional innovation environment-resource-output-benefit (EROB) composite systems, we propose a data-driven integrated model method for measurement, evaluation, and identification. First, we construct an evaluation indicator system of coupling coordination development of regional innovation EROB composite systems. Second, we apply the entropy method to measure indicator weights and comprehensive development indices of regional innovation composite systems. The coupling coordination degree model is used to calculate and evaluate four subsystems’ coupling coordination development levels. The obstacle degree model is used to identify the main obstacle factors affecting coupling coordination development. Finally, using panel data of the Yangtze River Delta region (three provinces and one city) between 2014–2019 as a case study, we test the integrated model method. The results show that the comprehensive development level of the regional innovation EROB composite system in the Yangtze River Delta region maintained a stable growth trend; the coupling coordination development level among four subsystems continuously improved, with the main obstacle being the innovation resource subsystem. Accordingly, targeted policy suggestions are put forward. This study not only provides theoretical and methodological support for evaluating and optimizing regional innovation composite systems but also provides decision-making support for sustainable and high-quality development of regional economies.

Niche-Driven Socio-Environmental Linkages and Regional Sustainable Development

The changes in niche roles and functions caused by competition for survival resources have implications in various domains, with natural science and social science standing out. Currently, expanding the ecological niche concept and its practical interpretation in the fields of social ecology, geography and sustainable science is becoming a crucial challenge. This paper is based on niche theory to observe niche evolution and resulting socio-ecological effects of 1186 towns in 19 prefecture cities in Yangtze River delta. The results indicate that: Towns around the Taihu Lake displayed obvious spatial agglomeration, which was leading the development of the entire region. The town niche shows obvious characteristics of north-south differences and hierarchy distribution. The niche coordination degree of Jiangsu Province was higher than that of Zhejiang Province. The higher the subsystem coordination degree, the better the town development. Towns with poor ecological conditions are often subject to competition, while towns with better ecological conditions often benefit from cooperative development. The niche separation and collaboration could enhance niche competition of towns and cities in the region. The proposed framework can facilitate interdisciplinary exchanges among geography, sociology, landscape ecology and regional planning and provide insights for understanding regional co-opetition relationship and regional sustainable development.