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Can the Establishment of University Science and Technology Parks Promote Urban Innovation? Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Xiong

    (School of Business Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China)

  • Shengsheng Li

    (School of Economics, Anhui University, Hefei 230610, China)

Abstract

China’s university science and technology parks (USTPs) were established with the aim of closely combining the scientific and educational intellectual resources of universities with the advantageous innovation resources of the market to form a fusion of industry and education. This paper uses the establishment of national university science and technology parks (NUSTPs) as a “quasi-natural experiment.” We used the panel data of 293 cities from 1999 to 2017 as a sample to analyze the impact of NUSTP establishment on urban innovation, using the difference-in-difference method. The research found the following: (1) The establishment of NUSTPs significantly improves the level of urban innovation, and the conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. The urban innovation effect of the establishment of NUSTPs is dynamic, non-lagging, and continuous. (2) The innovation effect differs significantly, depending on the city region, the city scale, and the university level. Specifically, the innovation effect of the establishment of NUSTPs is significant for cities in middle and western cities, large-scale cities, and cities with double first-class and local universities setting up USTPs, while the effect is not significant for cities in eastern cities, small- and medium-scale cities, and non-double first-class and ministry-affiliated institutions. (3) The impact mechanism test shows that NUSTPs contribute to urban innovation by increasing the city’s human capital, enhancing the degree of industrial agglomeration, and creating an innovation space effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Xiong & Shengsheng Li, 2022. "Can the Establishment of University Science and Technology Parks Promote Urban Innovation? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10707-:d:899947
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guangqin Li & Wenqi Niu, 2025. "How does fintech promote urban innovation? empirical evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Shengsheng Li & Yuanyuan Wang & Hasan Dincer & Serhat Yuksel & Dongyao Yu, 2023. "The Effects of New Urbanization Pilot City Policies on Urban Innovation: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Mingbo Ji & Mengyun Jin & Lingyun Chen & Yuwei Liu & Yihao Tian, 2024. "Promoting Urban Innovation through Smart Cities: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Nobuya FUKUGAWA & Kuo-I CHANG, 2025. "Science Parks in Taiwan and Their Value-adding Contributions," Discussion papers 25005, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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