IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/growch/v51y2020i2p749-770.html

Government support and firm innovation performance in Chinese science and technology parks: The perspective of firm and sub‐park heterogeneity

Author

Listed:
  • Tangwei Teng
  • Yi Zhang
  • Yuefang Si
  • Jiayi Chen
  • Xianzhong Cao

Abstract

Science and technology parks (STPs) are established to promote the firm innovation performance via agglomeration economy and government support in China. On‐site qualified firms obtain government R&D funding as a type of government support, and they are offered differential innovation service caused by the differential capabilities of sub‐parks which scatter throughout a single city. It is debatable whether those government supports at firm and sub‐park levels can promote firm innovation capabilities. This study takes Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, Shanghai as an example. It applies a Tobit regression model to analyse the databases of Zhangjiang Annual Sampling Survey of Firms 2015 and Zhangjiang Development Report 2015. We find out at the firm level, government R&D funding has a significant and positive influence on firms' innovation, but government R&D funding generates a crowing‐out effect the innovation performance of on‐site firms with more R&D investment themselves. At the sub‐park level, innovation service agencies of sub‐parks do not exert an important role in influencing firms' innovation, and they even have negative moderating effects on the relationship between firm R&D investment and firm innovation performance. It reflects the mismatch between innovation service of STPs and firms' needs in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Tangwei Teng & Yi Zhang & Yuefang Si & Jiayi Chen & Xianzhong Cao, 2020. "Government support and firm innovation performance in Chinese science and technology parks: The perspective of firm and sub‐park heterogeneity," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 749-770, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:growch:v:51:y:2020:i:2:p:749-770
    DOI: 10.1111/grow.12372
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12372
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/grow.12372?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fukugawa, Nobuya, 2006. "Science parks in Japan and their value-added contributions to new technology-based firms," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 381-400, March.
    2. Loren Brandt & Trevor Tombe & Xiadong Zhu, 2013. "Factor Market Distortions Across Time, Space, and Sectors in China," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 16(1), pages 39-58, January.
    3. Guangzhou Hu, Albert, 2001. "Ownership, Government R&D, Private R&D, and Productivity in Chinese Industry," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 136-157, March.
    4. Ren Lu & Ruikan Zhang & Torger Reve, 2013. "Relations among Clusters in Six Chinese City Regions," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(8), pages 1189-1209, August.
    5. Jaffe, Adam B, 1989. "Real Effects of Academic Research," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(5), pages 957-970, December.
    6. José Barbero & José Casillas & Mike Wright & Alicia Ramos Garcia, 2014. "Do different types of incubators produce different types of innovations?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 151-168, April.
    7. Bercovitz, Janet E.L. & Feldman, Maryann P., 2007. "Fishing upstream: Firm innovation strategy and university research alliances," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 930-948, September.
    8. Alberto Albahari & Magnus Klofsten & Juan Carlos Rubio-Romero, 2019. "Science and Technology Parks: a study of value creation for park tenants," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1256-1272, August.
    9. Kuo-Feng Huang & Chwo-Ming Yu & Dah-Hsian Seetoo, 2012. "Firm innovation in policy-driven parks and spontaneous clusters: the smaller firm the better?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(5), pages 715-731, October.
    10. Garner, Jacqueline L. & Nam, Jouahn & Ottoo, Richard E., 2002. "Determinants of corporate growth opportunities of emerging firms," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 73-93.
    11. Elisa Giuliani, 2007. "The selective nature of knowledge networks in clusters: evidence from the wine industry," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 139-168, March.
    12. Harvey A. Goldstein & Michael I. Luger, 1990. "Science/Technology Parks and Regional Development Theory," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 4(1), pages 64-78, February.
    13. Arne Isaksen & Bjørn T. Asheim, "undated". "Location, agglomeration and innovation: Towards regional innovation systems in Norway?," STEP Report series 199613, The STEP Group, Studies in technology, innovation and economic policy.
    14. Nicola Bellini & Jukka Teras & Hakan Ylinenpaa, 2012. "Science and Technology Parks in the Age of Open Innovation. The Finnish Case," Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management, Niccolò Cusano University, issue 1 Innovat, pages 25-44.
    15. Lazerson, Mark H & Lorenzoni, Gianni, 1999. "The Firms That Feed Industrial Districts: A Return to the Italian," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 8(2), pages 235-266, June.
    16. Choi, Suk Bong & Lee, Soo Hee & Williams, Christopher, 2011. "Ownership and firm innovation in a transition economy: Evidence from China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 441-452, April.
    17. Dominguez, Noémie & Mayrhofer, Ulrike, 2017. "Internationalization stages of traditional SMEs: Increasing, decreasing and re-increasing commitment to foreign markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1051-1063.
    18. Colombo, Massimo G. & Delmastro, Marco, 2002. "How effective are technology incubators?: Evidence from Italy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 1103-1122, September.
    19. Fangzhu Zhang, 2015. "Building Biotech in Shanghai: A Perspective of Regional Innovation System," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(10), pages 2062-2078, October.
    20. Laura Lecluyse & Mirjam Knockaert & André Spithoven, 2019. "The contribution of science parks: a literature review and future research agenda," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 559-595, April.
    21. Noémie Dominguez & Ulrike Mayrhofer, 2017. "Internationalization stages of traditional SMEs: Increasing, decreasing and re-increasing commitment to foreign markets," Post-Print hal-01599209, HAL.
    22. Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge‐Gil & Salvador Pérez‐Canto & Aurelia Modrego, 2018. "The influence of science and technology park characteristics on firms' innovation results," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 97(2), pages 253-279, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil & Salvador Pérez-Canto & Paolo Landoni, 2023. "The effect of science and technology parks on tenant firms: a literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1489-1531, August.
    2. Assel Kydyrbekova & Kulyash Meiramkulova & Aliya Kydyrbekova & Timoth Mkilima, 2024. "Exploring the nexus of innovation management, ultraviolet irradiation, and business scale: implications for sustainable fruit and vegetable preservation during the COVID-19 era," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-27, December.
    3. Biru Desta Kassaye & Yitbarek Takele Bayiley & Zerihun Kinde Alemu, 2025. "Entrepreneurial success factors and the performance of returnee migrant entrepreneurs in Ethiopia: the mediating role of policies and support systems," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-28, December.
    4. Minming Wei & Baiyu Dong & Pingbin Jin, 2023. "Do Science Parks Promote Companies’ Innovative Performance? Micro Evidence from Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Independent Demonstration Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Yan Han & Cheng Pan & Fengjun Jin, 2023. "Does the Improvement of the Business Environment Improve the Innovation Efficiency of Enterprises? Evidence from the Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-25, July.
    6. Harry Jeong & Kwangsoo Shin & Seunghyun Kim & Eungdo Kim, 2021. "What Types of Government Support on Food SMEs Improve Innovation Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    7. Ling Zhang, 2024. "Spatial agglomeration of information services industry and its evolution: Evidence from the Pearl River Delta, China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), March.
    8. Zeng Gang & Zhang Yi & Cao Xianzhong, 2023. "Cross-Border knowledge pipelines and innovation performance of chinese firms: evidence from Zhangjiang in Shanghai," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 67(1), pages 33-46, May.
    9. Tsiong, Sin-Som (Sergio) & Liu, Hongsong, 2025. "Is productive service intermediate input a good instrument for enhancing the Global Value Chain participation?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 638-653.
    10. Rodrigo Dávila Bolliger & Bruno Brandão Fischer & Adriana Ferreira Faria & Marcelo Gonçalves Amaral & Milena Pavan Serafim, 2025. "Heterogeneous profiles and trajectories of science and technology parks: evidence from Brazil," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1461-1490, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil & Salvador Pérez-Canto & Paolo Landoni, 2023. "The effect of science and technology parks on tenant firms: a literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1489-1531, August.
    2. Laspia, Alessandro & Sansone, Giuliano & Landoni, Paolo & Racanelli, Domenico & Bartezzaghi, Emilio, 2021. "The organization of innovation services in science and technology parks: Evidence from a multi-case study analysis in Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Kang, Yankun & Liu, Ruiming & Yang, Bingyan, 2025. "Bridging the ivory tower and industry: How university science parks promote university-industry collaboration?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(6).
    4. Eduardo Cadorin & Magnus Klofsten & Hans Löfsten, 2021. "Science Parks, talent attraction and stakeholder involvement: an international study," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 1-28, February.
    5. Corrocher, Nicoletta & Lamperti, Francesco & Mavilia, Roberto, 2019. "Do science parks sustain or trigger innovation? Empirical evidence from Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 140-151.
    6. T. Theeranattapong & D. Pickernell & C. Simms, 2021. "Systematic literature review paper: the regional innovation system-university-science park nexus," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 2017-2050, December.
    7. Alberto Albahari & Magnus Klofsten & Juan Carlos Rubio-Romero, 2019. "Science and Technology Parks: a study of value creation for park tenants," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1256-1272, August.
    8. Albahari, Alberto & Pérez-Canto, Salvador & Barge-Gil, Andrés & Modrego, Aurelia, 2017. "Technology Parks versus Science Parks: Does the university make the difference?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 13-28.
    9. Hans Löfsten & Magnus Klofsten & Eduardo Cadorin, 2020. "Science Parks and talent attraction management: university students as a strategic resource for innovation and entrepreneurship," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(12), pages 2465-2488, December.
    10. Rui Torres de Oliveira & Simona Gentile-Lüdecke & Sandra Figueira, 2022. "Barriers to innovation and innovation performance: the mediating role of external knowledge search in emerging economies," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1953-1974, April.
    11. Taiane Quaresma Leite & André Luis Silva & Joaquim Ramos Silva & Sérgio Evangelista Silva, 2023. "A Multilevel Analysis of the Interaction Between Science Parks and External Agents: a Study in Brazil and Portugal," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 1790-1829, June.
    12. Marcos Anton-Tejon & Catalina Martinez & Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil, 2024. "Science and technology parks and their effects on the quality of tenants’ patents," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1846-1879, October.
    13. Bai, Xue-Jie & Yan, Wen-Kai & Chiu, Yung-Ho, 2015. "Performance evaluation of China's Hi-tech zones in the post financial crisis era — Analysis based on the dynamic network SBM model," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 122-134.
    14. Klofsten, Magnus & Löfsten, Hans & Albahari, Alberto, 2025. "A typology approach to understanding the diversity of Science Parks," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Angela Rocio Vasquez-Urriago & Andrés Barge-Gil & Aurelia Modrego Rico, 2016. "Which firms benefit more from being located in a Science and Technology Park? Empirical evidence for Spain," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 107-117.
    16. Laura Lecluyse & Mirjam Knockaert & André Spithoven, 2019. "The contribution of science parks: a literature review and future research agenda," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 559-595, April.
    17. Lu, Ren & Ruan, Min & Reve, Torger, 2016. "Cluster and co-located cluster effects: An empirical study of six Chinese city regions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(10), pages 1984-1995.
    18. Hülya Ünlü & Serdal Temel & Kristel Miller, 2023. "Understanding the drivers of patent performance of University Science Parks in Turkey," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 842-872, June.
    19. Leyla A. Sandoval Hamón & Soraya M. Ruiz Peñalver & Elisa Thomas & Rune Dahl Fitjar, 2024. "From high-tech clusters to open innovation ecosystems: a systematic literature review of the relationship between science and technology parks and universities," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 689-714, April.
    20. Vásquez-Urriago, Ángela Rocío & Barge-Gil, Andrés & Modrego Rico, Aurelia, 2016. "Science and Technology Parks and cooperation for innovation: Empirical evidence from Spain," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 137-147.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:growch:v:51:y:2020:i:2:p:749-770. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0017-4815 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.