IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v223y2026ics0040162525004433.html

Behind the wheel of progress: Innovation factor allocation patterns of collaborative innovation in electric vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • Hu, Wenbo
  • Liu, Yanbing
  • Li, Yuying
  • Chen, Danling

Abstract

Innovation factor allocation patterns are crucial in promoting technological innovation within the electric vehicle (EV) sector. This study constructed EV collaborative innovation networks and leveraged fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to unravel the innovation factor allocation patterns for high-level innovation performance. Moreover, this paper adopted exponential random graph models (ERGMs) to analyze the driving forces of these collaborative relationships to realize high-level innovation performance. Our findings reveal several insights: first, while the EV sector witnesses a burgeoning involvement of innovation actors, the cohesiveness of EV collaborative innovation networks gradually diminishes. Second, three innovation factor allocation patterns (i.e., Adaptation-Breakthrough, Agglomeration-Coordination, and Integration-Efficiency patterns) for high-level innovation performance have been identified. Third, geographical proximity and organizational proximity facilitate the formation and evolution of EV collaborative innovation networks, whereas institutional proximity impedes them. This research pioneers a novel methodological paradigm for future studies and presents practical implications tailored for innovation actors to propel innovation performance and engage in EV collaborative innovation networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Wenbo & Liu, Yanbing & Li, Yuying & Chen, Danling, 2026. "Behind the wheel of progress: Innovation factor allocation patterns of collaborative innovation in electric vehicles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:223:y:2026:i:c:s0040162525004433
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124412
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162525004433
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124412?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hua Cheng & Zhiying Zhang & Zhongju Liao & Yong Wei & Joseph Martial Nkongo Mvondo, 2020. "Different policy instruments and the threshold effects on collaboration efficiency in China," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 47(3), pages 348-359.
    2. Wang, Ge & Li, Yang & Zuo, Jian & Hu, Wenbo & Nie, Qingwei & Lei, Heqian, 2021. "Who drives green innovations? Characteristics and policy implications for green building collaborative innovation networks in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Pappas, Ilias O. & Woodside, Arch G., 2021. "Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA): Guidelines for research practice in Information Systems and marketing," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    4. Lazzeretti, Luciana & Capone, Francesco, 2016. "How proximity matters in innovation networks dynamics along the cluster evolution. A study of the high technology applied to cultural goods," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(12), pages 5855-5865.
    5. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2017. "Nothing is in the Air," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 22-39, March.
    6. Zhigang Zhou & Xingxing Wen & Fan Yang, 2023. "Impact of network embeddedness on innovation performance: the perspective of organisational routine updating," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(4), pages 1292-1314, December.
    7. Box-Steffensmeier, Janet M. & Christenson, Dino P. & Morgan, Jason W., 2018. "Modeling Unobserved Heterogeneity in Social Networks with the Frailty Exponential Random Graph Model," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(1), pages 3-19, January.
    8. Olivier Bouba-Olga & Michel Grossetti & Marie Ferru, 2014. "How I met my partner: reconsidering proximities," Chapters, in: André Torre & Frédéric Wallet (ed.), Regional Development and Proximity Relations, chapter 6, pages 223-240, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Liping Wu & Man Xu, 2022. "Research on Cooperative Innovation Network Structure and Evolution Characteristics of Electric Vehicle Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Peter Moran, 2005. "Structural vs. relational embeddedness: social capital and managerial performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1129-1151, December.
    11. Han, Jing & Guo, Ju-E & Cai, Xun & Lv, Cheng & Lev, Benjamin, 2022. "An analysis on strategy evolution of research & development in cooperative innovation network of new energy vehicle within policy transition period," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    12. Chen, Guanghua & Yang, Guoliang & He, Feng & Chen, Kaihua, 2019. "Exploring the effect of political borders on university-industry collaborative research performance: Evidence from China’s Guangdong province," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 82, pages 58-69.
    13. Susanne Hinzmann & Uwe Cantner & Holger Graf, 2019. "The role of geographical proximity for project performance: evidence from the German Leading-Edge Cluster Competition," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1744-1783, December.
    14. Jia Liu & Zhaohui Chong & Shijian Lu & Wei Zhang, 2021. "The Evolution and Determinants of Interorganizational Coinvention Networks in New Energy Vehicles: Evidence from Shenzhen, China," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2021, pages 1-12, January.
    15. Philippe Askenazy & Christophe Cahn & Delphine Irac, 2013. "Competition, R&D, and the cost of innovation: evidence for France," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 65(2), pages 293-311, April.
    16. Wang, Jue & Zhang, Liwei, 2018. "Proximal advantage in knowledge diffusion: The time dimension," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 858-867.
    17. Rachid Sadgui & Mohamed Benchekara, 2018. "Cooperation in Incremental Innovation Activities: An Empirical Analysis of Moroccan Firms," International Journal of Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Technology (IJSSMET), IGI Global Scientific Publishing, vol. 9(3), pages 48-61, July.
    18. Jiayi Jia & Yongzeng Lai & Zheng Yang & Lin Li, 2022. "The Optimal Strategy of Enterprise Key Resource Allocation and Utilization in Collaborative Innovation Project Based on Evolutionary Game," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-25, January.
    19. He, Chaocheng & Liu, Fuzhen & Dong, Ke & Wu, Jiang & Zhang, Qingpeng, 2023. "Research on the formation mechanism of research leadership relations: An exponential random graph model analysis approach," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2).
    20. Jannika Mattes, 2012. "Dimensions of Proximity and Knowledge Bases: Innovation between Spatial and Non-spatial Factors," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(8), pages 1085-1099, December.
    21. Jarle Aarstad & Faraimo Jay Vai & Olav Andreas Kvitastein, 2023. "Does Innovation Experience Affect Enterprise Performance From Inter-Firm Collaboration And R&D Investments?," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 27(01n02), pages 1-32, February.
    22. Lachang Lyu & Weiping Wu & Haipeng Hu & Ru Huang, 2019. "An evolving regional innovation network: collaboration among industry, university, and research institution in China’s first technology hub," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 659-680, June.
    23. Teis Hansen, 2015. "Substitution or Overlap? The Relations between Geographical and Non-spatial Proximity Dimensions in Collaborative Innovation Projects," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(10), pages 1672-1684, October.
    24. Kateřina Nováková & Anna Pražanová & Daniel-Ioan Stroe & Vaclav Knap, 2023. "Second-Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries from Electric Vehicles: Concept, Aging, Testing, and Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-19, February.
    25. Pierre-Alexandre Balland, 2012. "Proximity and the Evolution of Collaboration Networks: Evidence from Research and Development Projects within the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Industry," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(6), pages 741-756, September.
    26. Sun, Yutao & Jiang, Lin & Cao, Cong & Tseng, Fang-Mei, 2024. "From contributors to boundary spanners: Evolving roles of government agencies in China’s innovation policy network (1980–2019)," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    27. Ron Boschma, 2005. "Proximity and Innovation: A Critical Assessment," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 61-74.
    28. Rohlfing, Ingo, 2018. "Power and False Negatives in Qualitative Comparative Analysis: Foundations, Simulation and Estimation for Empirical Studies," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(1), pages 72-89, January.
    29. Emmanuel Dockx & Koen Verhoest & Tom Langbroek & Jan Wynen, 2023. "Bringing together unlikely innovators: do connective and learning capacities impact collaboration for innovation and diversity of actors?," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(6), pages 1104-1127, June.
    30. Jeongwon Lee & Junseok Hwang & Hana Kim, 2022. "Does diversity make collaborative subsidies effective? ICT sector in Korea," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 1-24, January.
    31. Clarice Bertin, 2019. "Proximité et facteurs organisationnels pour la collaboration startup – grande entreprise en contexte d ’ innovation ouverte," Innovations, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(1), pages 135-160.
    32. Clarice Bertin, 2019. "Proximité et facteurs organisationnels pour la collaboration startup – grande entreprise en contexte d’innovation ouverte," Post-Print hal-02014542, HAL.
    33. Pieter W. Heringa & Laurens K. Hessels & Mariëlle van der Zouwen, 2016. "The influence of proximity dimensions on international research collaboration: an analysis of European water projects," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 753-772, November.
    34. Tom Broekel & Ron Boschma, 2012. "Knowledge networks in the Dutch aviation industry: the proximity paradox," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 409-433, March.
    35. Hong-Bo Shi & Yong-Cai Cui & Sang-Bing Tsai & Dong-Mei Wang, 2018. "The Impact of Technical–Nontechnical Factors Synergy on Innovation Performance: The Moderating Effect of Talent Flow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    36. Mansfield, Edwin & Lee, Jeong-Yeon, 1996. "The modern university: contributor to industrial innovation and recipient of industrial R&D support," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(7), pages 1047-1058, October.
    37. Francesco Capone & Luciana Lazzeretti, 2018. "The different roles of proximity in multiple informal network relationships: evidence from the cluster of high technology applied to cultural goods in Tuscany," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(9), pages 897-917, October.
    38. Guo, Yaoqi & Li, Yingli & Liu, Yongheng & Zhang, Hongwei, 2023. "The impact of geopolitical relations on the evolution of cobalt trade network from the perspective of industrial chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    39. Yuan, Ning & Li, Meijuan, 2024. "Research on collaborative innovation behavior of enterprise innovation ecosystem under evolutionary game," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    40. Roderik Ponds & Frank Van Oort & Koen Frenken, 2007. "The geographical and institutional proximity of research collaboration," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 86(3), pages 423-443, August.
    41. Sierzchula, William & Bakker, Sjoerd & Maat, Kees & van Wee, Bert, 2014. "The influence of financial incentives and other socio-economic factors on electric vehicle adoption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 183-194.
    42. repec:hal:pseose:hal-00812892 is not listed on IDEAS
    43. Zhao, Yang & Yongquan, Yang & Jian, Ma & Lu, Angela & Xuanhua, Xu, 2024. "Policy-induced cooperative knowledge network, university-industry collaboration and firm innovation: Evidence from the Greater Bay Area," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    44. Ashish Arora & Michelle Gittelman & Sarah Kaplan & John Lynch & Will Mitchell & Nicolaj Siggelkow & Ji Youn (Rose) Kim & Michael Howard & Emily Cox Pahnke & Warren Boeker, 2016. "Understanding network formation in strategy research: Exponential random graph models," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 22-44, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Rune Dahl Fitjar & Franz Huber & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2016. "Not too close, not too far: testing the Goldilocks principle of ‘optimal’ distance in innovation networks," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(6), pages 465-487, August.
    2. Christian Omobhude & Shih-Hsin Chen, 2019. "The Roles and Measurements of Proximity in Sustained Technology Development: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-30, January.
    3. Anna Varga-Csajkás & Tamás Sebestyén & Attila Varga, 2023. "Dynamics of collaboration among high-growth firms: results from an agent-based policy simulation," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(2), pages 353-377, April.
    4. Pierre-Alexandre Balland & Ron Boschma & Koen Frenken, 2020. "Proximity, Innovation and Networks: A Concise Review and Some Next Steps," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2019, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Mar 2020.
    5. Sun, Yutao & Jiang, Lin & Cao, Cong, 2025. "Multiple proximities and inter-agency collaboration within a policy network: The case of innovation policymaking in China," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Ferretti, Marco & Guerini, Massimiliano & Panetti, Eva & Parmentola, Adele, 2022. "The partner next door? The effect of micro-geographical proximity on intra-cluster inter-organizational relationships," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Teis Hansen, 2014. "Juggling with Proximity and Distance: Collaborative Innovation Projects in the Danish Cleantech Industry," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 90(4), pages 375-402, October.
    8. Villani, Elisa & Rasmussen, Einar & Grimaldi, Rosa, 2017. "How intermediary organizations facilitate university–industry technology transfer: A proximity approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 86-102.
    9. Maria Tsouri, 2022. "Knowledge networks and strong tie creation: the role of relative network position," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 95-114, January.
    10. Utku Ali Rıza Alpaydın & Rune Dahl Fitjar, 2021. "Proximity across the distant worlds of university–industry collaborations," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(3), pages 689-711, June.
    11. Delorme, Donatienne, 2023. "The role of proximity in the design of innovation intermediaries' business models," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    12. Utku Ali Rıza Alpaydın & Rune Dahl Fitjar, 2024. "How do university‐industry collaborations benefit innovation? Direct and indirect outcomes of different collaboration types," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), June.
    13. Maria Tsouri, 2020. "Knowledge Networks and Strong Tie Creation: the Role of Relative Network Position," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2039, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2020.
    14. Tsouri, Maria & Hansen, Teis & Hanson, Jens & Steen, Markus, 2022. "Knowledge recombination for emerging technological innovations: The case of green shipping," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    15. Kristina Jespersen & Damiana Rigamonti & Morten Berg Jensen & Rune Bysted, 2018. "Analysis of SMEs partner proximity preferences for process innovation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 879-904, December.
    16. José Antonio Belso-Martínez & Alicia Mas-Tur & Mariola Sánchez & María José López-Sánchez, 2020. "The COVID-19 response system and collective social service provision. Strategic network dimensions and proximity considerations," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(3), pages 387-411, September.
    17. Xavier Molina-Morales, F. & Belso-Martínez, José A. & Más-Verdú, Francisco & Martínez-Cháfer, Luis, 2015. "Formation and dissolution of inter-firm linkages in lengthy and stable networks in clusters," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1557-1562.
    18. Milad Abbasiharofteh & Amir Maghssudipour, 2024. "Driving Forces Behind Relational Knowledge Sourcing in Clusters: Single- and Multilevel Approaches," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 15761-15787, December.
    19. Zhang, Ruixue & Tang, Yuyan & Li, Yongli & Zhang, Yuanxin, 2025. "What motivates the collaborative innovation relationship in infrastructure projects from dynamic network perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    20. Tom Broekel & Wladimir Mueller, 2018. "Critical links in knowledge networks – What about proximities and gatekeeper organisations?," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(10), pages 919-939, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:eee:tefoso:v:223:y:2026:i:c:s0040162525004433. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    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.