IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v83y2025ics0160791x25001939.html

Industrial robot diffusion and regional innovation disparities

Author

Listed:
  • Wu, Weiwei
  • Wang, Zhengfu

Abstract

The impact of technology inequality on regional development disparities is a subject of ongoing debate. Our results show that regional disparities in industrial robot imports have increased significantly, with an average annual growth rate of 10.46 %, while disparities in regional innovation have slightly declined by approximately 1 %. Using quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) regression analysis, we confirm the hypothesis that increasing regional disparities in robot imports can narrow the regional innovation gaps. Furthermore, the local capital structure strongly moderates the beneficial impact of robotics on reducing the regional innovation disparities. State ownership lessens this impact, whereas regional foreign capital strengthens it. This study offers both theoretical insights and practical policy implications for the sustainable development of China's regional economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Weiwei & Wang, Zhengfu, 2025. "Industrial robot diffusion and regional innovation disparities," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:83:y:2025:i:c:s0160791x25001939
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X25001939
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103003?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. Cho, Jaehan & DeStefano, Timothy & Kim, Hanhin & Kim, Inchul & Paik, Jin Hyun, 2023. "What's driving the diffusion of next-generation digital technologies?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    2. Jensen, Morten Berg & Johnson, Bjorn & Lorenz, Edward & Lundvall, Bengt Ake, 2007. "Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 680-693, June.
    3. Pfister, Curdin & Koomen, Miriam & Harhoff, Dietmar & Backes-Gellner, Uschi, 2021. "Regional innovation effects of applied research institutions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(4).
    4. Susanto Basu & David N. Weil, 1998. "Appropriate Technology and Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 113(4), pages 1025-1054.
    5. Vu, Khuong M & Asongu, Simplice, 2020. "Backwardness advantage and economic growth in the information age: A cross-country empirical study," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    6. Peiró-Palomino, Jesús & Perugini, Francesco, 2022. "Regional innovation disparities in Italy: The role of governance," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).
    7. Du, Longzheng & Lin, Weifen, 2022. "Does the application of industrial robots overcome the Solow paradox? Evidence from China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Yang, Xuehui & Zhang, Huirong & Lin, Shanlang & Zhang, Jiaping & Zeng, Jianlong, 2021. "Does high-speed railway promote regional innovation growth or innovation convergence?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Keyvan Vakili & Laurina Zhang, 2018. "High on creativity: The impact of social liberalization policies on innovation," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(7), pages 1860-1886, July.
    10. Raj, Alok & Dwivedi, Gourav & Sharma, Ankit & Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Ana Beatriz & Rajak, Sonu, 2020. "Barriers to the adoption of industry 4.0 technologies in the manufacturing sector: An inter-country comparative perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    11. Bengt-Åke Lundvall & Edward Lorenz, 2012. "Innovation and Competence Building in the Learning Economy: Implications for Innovation Policy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Bjørn T. Asheim & Mario Davide Parrilli (ed.), Interactive Learning for Innovation, chapter 1, pages 33-71, Palgrave Macmillan.
    12. Asif, Zainab & Chinzara, Zivanemoyo & Lahiri, Radhika, 2023. "The role of risk and institutions in the adoption and diffusion of technologies: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 16-33.
    13. Barro, Robert J & Sala-i-Martin, Xavier, 1997. "Technological Diffusion, Convergence, and Growth," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-26, March.
    14. Joyce C. Wang & Jingtao Yi & Xiuping Zhang & Mike W. Peng, 2022. "Pyramidal Ownership and SOE Innovation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(7), pages 1839-1868, November.
    15. Wang, Lei & Zhou, Yahong & Chiao, Benjamin, 2023. "Robots and firm innovation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    16. Lv, Chengchao & Song, Jie & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "Can digital finance narrow the regional disparities in the quality of economic growth? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 502-521.
    17. Kaplinsky, Raphael & Kraemer-Mbula, Erika, 2022. "Innovation and uneven development: The challenge for low- and middle-income economies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    18. Xu, Aiting & Qiu, Keyang & Jin, Canyang & Cheng, Caijuan & Zhu, Yuhan, 2022. "Regional innovation ability and its inequality: Measurements and dynamic decomposition," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    19. Fleisher, Belton & Li, Haizheng & Zhao, Min Qiang, 2010. "Human capital, economic growth, and regional inequality in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 215-231, July.
    20. Flavio L. Pinheiro & Pierre-Alexandre Balland & Ron Boschma & Dominik Hartmann, 2025. "The dark side of the geography of innovation: relatedness, complexity and regional inequality in Europe," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(1), pages 2106362-210, December.
    21. Byungchae Jin & Francisco García & Robert Salomon, 2019. "Inward foreign direct investment and local firm innovation: The moderating role of technological capabilities," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(5), pages 847-855, July.
    22. De Noni, Ivan & Orsi, Luigi & Belussi, Fiorenza, 2018. "The role of collaborative networks in supporting the innovation performances of lagging-behind European regions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 1-13.
    23. Mulas-Granados, Carlos & Sanz, Ismael, 2008. "The dispersion of technology and income in Europe: Evolution and mutual relationship across regions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 836-848, June.
    24. Nancey Green Leigh & Heonyeong Lee & Benjamin Kraft, 2022. "Disparities in robot adoption among U.S. manufacturers: a critical economic development challenge," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(9), pages 1025-1044, October.
    25. Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, Jon Mikel & Aparicio, Juan & Ortiz, Lidia & Carayannis, Elias G. & Grigoroudis, Evangelos, 2021. "The productivity of national innovation systems in Europe: Catching up or falling behind?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    26. Qing Hu & Wenjing Li & Chen Lin & Lai Wei, 2024. "What Causes Privatization? Evidence from Import Competition in China," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(5), pages 3080-3101, May.
    27. Bret Crane & Chad Albrecht & Kristopher McKay Duffin & Conan Albrecht, 2018. "China’s special economic zones: an analysis of policy to reduce regional disparities," Regional Studies, Regional Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 98-107, January.
    28. Mehmet Güney Celbis & Denis de Crombrugghe, 2018. "Internet infrastructure and regional convergence: Evidence from Turkey," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 97(2), pages 387-409, June.
    29. Simona Iammarino & Andrés Rodriguez-Pose & Michael Storper, 2019. "Regional inequality in Europe: evidence, theory and policy implications," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 273-298.
    30. Xin, Baogui & Ye, Xiaopu, 2024. "Robotics applications, inclusive employment and income disparity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    31. Tedi Skiti, 2020. "Institutional entry barriers and spatial technology diffusion: Evidence from the broadband industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7), pages 1336-1361, July.
    32. 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.
    33. Paolo Castelnovo & Valentina Morretta & Michela Vecchi, 2020. "Regional disparities and industrial structure: territorial capital and productivity in Italian firms," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(12), pages 1709-1723, December.
    34. Sixu Wu & Panpan Wang & Bindong Sun, 2022. "Can the Internet narrow regional economic disparities?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 324-337, February.
    35. Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro & Li, Cheng, 2021. "State ownership and internationalization: The advantage and disadvantage of stateness," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    36. Tianjiao Xia & Xiaohui Liu, 2017. "Foreign competition, domestic competition and innovation in Chinese private high-tech new ventures," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(6), pages 716-739, August.
    37. Pan, Xiongfeng & Guo, Shucen & Li, Mengna & Song, Jinbo, 2021. "The effect of technology infrastructure investment on technological innovation ——A study based on spatial durbin model," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    38. Rosa Caiazza, 2016. "A cross-national analysis of policies affecting innovation diffusion," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(6), pages 1406-1419, December.
    39. Švarc, Jadranka & Dabić, Marina, 2021. "Transformative innovation policy or how to escape peripheral policy paradox in European research peripheral countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    40. Martijn J. Burger & Kostas Kounetas & Oreste Napolitano & Spyridon Stavropoulos, 2022. "Do innovation and human capital actually narrow the technology gap? Champions and laggards of European regional productive performance," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 1655-1670, October.
    41. Pan, Yuling & Dong, Feng, 2022. "Dynamic evolution and driving factors of new energy development: Fresh evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    42. Nils Grashof & Stefano Basilico, 2025. "Divergent paths for green transition: regional disparities in technology diversification," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(1), pages 2363327-236, December.
    43. Malick Souare, 2013. "Productivity growth, trade and FDI nexus: evidence from the Canadian manufacturing sector," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 38(5), pages 675-698, October.
    44. (Maggie) Fu, Xiaoqing & Bao, Qun & Xie, Hongjun & Fu, Xiaolan, 2021. "Diffusion of industrial robotics and inclusive growth: Labour market evidence from cross country data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 670-684.
    45. Juan Francisco Canal Domínguez, 2021. "Higher education, regional growth and cohesion: insights from the Spanish case," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(8), pages 1403-1416, August.
    46. Filippopoulos, Nikolaos & Fotopoulos, Georgios, 2022. "Innovation in economically developed and lagging European regions: A configurational analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(2).
    47. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Qin, Shuai & Li, Yaya, 2022. "Does industrial robot application promote green technology innovation in the manufacturing industry?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    48. Gan, Jiawu & Liu, Lihua & Qiao, Gang & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    49. Quah, Danny T., 1996. "Empirics for economic growth and convergence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 1353-1375, June.
    50. Dana Bakry & Tugrul Daim & Saeed Alzahrani & Marina Dabic & Birol Yesilada, 2025. "Exploring innovation ecosystems to facilitate the adoption of sustainable entrepreneurship: Looking beyond the Western World," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(1), pages 337-387, January.
    51. Todtling, Franz & Trippl, Michaela, 2005. "One size fits all?: Towards a differentiated regional innovation policy approach," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(8), pages 1203-1219, October.
    52. Gülfiye Özcan Alp & Tüzin Baycan, 2024. "Digital divide reflections on regional development disparities in Türkiye," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 608-625, October.
    53. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2022. "Demographics and Automation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(1), pages 1-44.
    54. Domini, Giacomo & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Treibich, Tania, 2022. "For whom the bell tolls: The firm-level effects of automation on wage and gender inequality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    55. Dong, Guowei & Kokko, Ari & Zhou, Haoyong, 2022. "Innovation and export performance of emerging market enterprises: The roles of state and foreign ownership in China," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    56. Andre Jungmittag, 2021. "Robotisation of the manufacturing industries in the EU: Convergence or divergence?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(5), pages 1269-1290, October.
    57. Scalamonti, Francesco, 2024. "The foreign investments-growth nexus in underdeveloped countries: the state-of-art of research analysing a selected and recent empirical literature (2020-2022)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    58. Zhou, Qin & Cheng, Changgao & Fang, Zhou & Zhang, Hengquan & Xu, Yining, 2024. "How does the development of the digital economy affect innovation output? Exploring mechanisms from the perspective of regional innovation systems," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-17.
    59. Enrico Santarelli & Jacopo Staccioli & Marco Vivarelli, 2023. "Automation and related technologies: a mapping of the new knowledge base," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 779-813, April.
    60. Lucas, Robert Jr., 1988. "On the mechanics of economic development," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 3-42, July.
    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. Yuan, Bo & Sun, Pengbo, 2024. "Does the high-tech foreign investment spark robot adoption in the developing world? Evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 302-314.
    2. Pu, Guifang & Xie, Yanxiang & Wu, Lidong & Wang, Kai, 2024. "Industrial robots and corporate risk-taking value," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    3. Gao, Kang & Yuan, Yijun, 2022. "Government intervention, spillover effect and urban innovation performance: Empirical evidence from national innovative city pilot policy in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo & Du, Shanzhong & Cao, June, 2024. "Robot adoption and enterprise R&D manipulation: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    5. Hervás-Oliver, José-Luis & Parrilli, Mario Davide & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés & Sempere-Ripoll, Francisca, 2021. "The drivers of SME innovation in the regions of the EU," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).
    6. Liu, Yang & Zhao, Congyu & Kong, Zhaoyang & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2025. "Pathways to stable economic policy: The role of industrial robotics and energy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    7. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, En-Ze, 2025. "Energy regulation and industrial robot adoption: The role of human capital," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    8. LEI WANG & Yihan Chen & Thomas Ramsey & Geoffrey Hewings, 2025. "Digital technology and service tradability: evidence from patent innovations and knowledge utilization," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "The effects of industrial robots on firm energy intensity: From the perspective of technological innovation and electrification," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    10. Han, Yihan & Pang, Silu & Jiang, Fuxin & Wang, Tao, 2025. "Does “Made in China (2025)” improve innovation quality in robotics? Evidence from PageRank-based patent network," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    11. Dai, Hangrui & Yang, Ronghai & Cao, Rongguang & Yin, Lei, 2024. "Does the application of industrial robots promote export green transformation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    12. Yasmina Reem Limam & Stephen M. Miller, 2004. "Explaining Economic Growth: Factor Accumulation, Total Factor Productivity Growth, and Production Efficiency Improvement," Working papers 2004-20, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    13. Cavallaro, Eleonora & Villani, Ilaria, 2021. "Real income convergence and the patterns of financial integration in the EU," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    14. Wei Li & Yuanxiang Peng & Jingjing Yang & Md Sazzad Hossain, 2024. "Human Capital Structure and Innovation Efficiency Under Technological Progress: Evidence from China," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, September.
    15. Eduardo Jimenez‐Moro & Panagiotis Piperopoulos & Mario Kafouros & Alan Au Kai Ming, 2023. "Innovation dynamics and club convergence in innovation activity in China: A temporal perspective," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(4), pages 791-816, August.
    16. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Callum Wilkie, 2018. "Strategies of gain and strategies of waste: What determines the success of development intervention?," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1826, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2018.
    17. Reher, Leonie & Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2024. "Personality and regional innovativeness: An empirical analysis of German patent data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    18. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Xuan, Chengnan & Wang, Fuhao, 2024. "Natural resources and green economic growth: The role of artificial intelligence," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    19. Wang, Jianlong & Wang, Weilong & Liu, Yong & Wu, Haitao, 2023. "Can industrial robots reduce carbon emissions? Based on the perspective of energy rebound effect and labor factor flow in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    20. Xu, Chongchong & Lin, Boqiang, 2025. "The AI-sustainability Nexus: How does intelligent transformation affect corporate green innovation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).

    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:teinso:v:83:y:2025:i:c:s0160791x25001939. 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: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    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.