The Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Industry–University Research Collaboration Efficiency in Chinese Mainland Universities

Impact of industry-university-research collaboration and convergence on economic development: Evidence from chengdu-chongqing economic circle in China

Collaboration among industry, universities, and research is crucial for building an innovative nation. Although industry-university-research collaborative innovation (IURCI) and time-space convergence can drive innovation, increase productivity, and spur economic development, their effects on the regional economy have not been thoroughly examined in existing literature. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of industry-university-research collaborative innovation (IURCI) and time-space convergence on economic development in China. Specifically, we focus on local-level cities in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) and construct an evaluation index system and time-space convergence model to measure the effects of IURCI and time-space convergence on economic development from 2007 to 2021. Our findings indicate that the efficacy of IURCI on economic development in China follows an inverted U-shaped curve, meaning that the marginal impact of IURC may decrease as more creative funds are deployed. Furthermore, the positive marginal effect of inventive talent input may decrease when it surpasses a certain value in an open innovation environment. The spatiotemporal convergence of collaborative innovation and development levels of IURCI in the CCEC shows significant differences. Regionally, the development level of IURCI in different regions exhibits significant differences in state and speed of convergence. In the southern Sichuan urban agglomeration, the collaborative innovation level of industry, education, and research follows an evolutionary process from convergence to divergence and then to convergence. Policymakers should pay close attention to the spatial effect of high-level development of regional IURCI and promote regions with higher development to drive regions with relatively weak development levels.

Categorical Evaluation of Scientific Research Efficiency in Chinese Universities: Basic and Applied Research

The categorical evaluation of scientific research efficiency is of great significance to technological innovation and research management. It is also helpful to promote the sustainable development of basic research and applied research in universities. In this study, 32 “Double First-Class” universities directly under the Ministry of Education in China were evaluated with the research efficiency evaluation system of basic research and applied research used, which is constructed based on the “research efficiency classification evaluation”. The empirical results show that the efficiency of basic research is low but total factor productivity grows faster, while the efficiency of applied research is high but total factor productivity grows slowly, and the gap between the two will be further reduced in the future. At the same time, scientific research efficiency depends on the type of university and disciplinary strengths: Comprehensive and normal universities are good at basic research while scientific and agricultural and forestry universities are more efficient in applied research. Universities should consolidate their strengths while making key breakthroughs on their shortcomings, optimize the structure of research inputs and outputs, and improve the efficiency of research resources utilization to actively promote the national innovation system and the construction of a powerful nation of science and technology.