IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-05512-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Geographic network characteristics of venture capital firms and high-tech enterprise innovation: evidence from high-speed rail

Author

Listed:
  • Ningyue Liu

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

  • Tailun Chen

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Huijuan Cao

    (Beijing Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Combining both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study examines the influence of the geographic network characteristics of venture capital (VC) firms on corporate innovation. Using data on 402 Chinese firms listed on the SSE STAR Market during their pre-IPO period (2001–2019), we empirically find that high-speed rail (HSR) connections between VC firms and investee firms during the post-investment stage significantly enhance the innovation performance of the investee firms. Mechanism analyses attribute this effect to improved knowledge transfer from VCs to investees. We further find that the impact is most pronounced when HSR is more convenient than air travel and when firms exhibit strong innovation incentives. These findings underscore the role of HSR in strengthening VC networks, facilitating knowledge exchange, and enhancing innovation performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Ningyue Liu & Tailun Chen & Huijuan Cao, 2025. "Geographic network characteristics of venture capital firms and high-tech enterprise innovation: evidence from high-speed rail," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05512-5
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05512-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05512-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-05512-5?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. Bertoni, Fabio & Tykvová, Tereza, 2015. "Does governmental venture capital spur invention and innovation? Evidence from young European biotech companies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(4), pages 925-935.
    2. 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).
    3. Belderbos, René & Jacob, Jojo & Lokshin, Boris, 2018. "Corporate venture capital (CVC) investments and technological performance: Geographic diversity and the interplay with technology alliances," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 20-34.
    4. Monika Schnitzer & Martin Watzinger, 2022. "Measuring the Spillovers of Venture Capital," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 104(2), pages 276-292, May.
    5. 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).
    6. Sampsa Samila & Olav Sorenson, 2011. "Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Growth," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 93(1), pages 338-349, February.
    7. Josh Lerner & Ramana Nanda, 2020. "Venture Capital's Role in Financing Innovation: What We Know and How Much We Still Need to Learn," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(3), pages 237-261, Summer.
    8. Xiao Lin & Wei Xu & Baiping Zhang & Fan Yang, 2019. "Does venture capital spur innovation or the other way around? Evidence on the significance of investment timing from China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 90-113, March.
    9. Bottazzi, Laura & Da Rin, Marco & Hellmann, Thomas, 2008. "Who are the active investors?: Evidence from venture capital," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(3), pages 488-512, September.
    10. Colombo, Massimo G. & Meoli, Michele & Vismara, Silvio, 2019. "Signaling in science-based IPOs: The combined effect of affiliation with prestigious universities, underwriters, and venture capitalists," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 141-177.
    11. Shakya, Shasta, 2022. "Geographic networks and spillovers between banks," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    12. Henry Chen & Paul Gompers & Anna Kovner & Josh Lerner, 2010. "Buy Local? The Geography of Venture Capital," NBER Chapters, in: Cities and Entrepreneurship, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Gu, Jing & Zhang, Fujuan & Xu, Xun & Xue, Chaokai, 2023. "Stay or switch? The impact of venture capitalists' movement across network communities on enterprises’ innovation performance," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Marco Da Rin & María Fabiana Penas, 2017. "Venture capital and innovation strategies," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 26(5), pages 781-800.
    15. Yang, Song & Li, Yuanqin & Wang, Xingzhou, 2018. "Cohesiveness or competitiveness: Venture capital syndication networks and firms' performance in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 295-303.
    16. Shai Bernstein & Xavier Giroud & Richard R. Townsend, 2016. "The Impact of Venture Capital Monitoring," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 71(4), pages 1591-1622, August.
    17. Casamatta, Catherine & Haritchabalet, Carole, 2007. "Experience, screening and syndication in venture capital investments," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 368-398, July.
    18. Kyounghun Lee & Frederick Dongchuhl Oh & Donglim Shin & Heejin Yoon, 2023. "Does venture capital investment enhance corporate innovation? Evidence from Korea," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1-2), pages 236-266, January.
    19. Wang, Tao, 2023. "The ownership structure of corporate venture capital financing and innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    20. Ying Sophie Huang & Buhui Qiu & Jiajia Wu & Juan Yao, 2023. "Institutional distance, geographic distance, and Chinese venture capital investment: do networks and trust matter?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1795-1844, December.
    21. Gompers, Paul A. & Gornall, Will & Kaplan, Steven N. & Strebulaev, Ilya A., 2020. "How do venture capitalists make decisions?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(1), pages 169-190.
    22. Baum, Joel A. C. & Silverman, Brian S., 2004. "Picking winners or building them? Alliance, intellectual, and human capital as selection criteria in venture financing and performance of biotechnology startups," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 411-436, May.
    23. Nahata, Rajarishi & Hazarika, Sonali & Tandon, Kishore, 2014. "Success in Global Venture Capital Investing: Do Institutional and Cultural Differences Matter?," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(4), pages 1039-1070, August.
    24. Sunasir Dutta & Daniel Erian Armanios & Jaison D. Desai, 2022. "Beyond Spatial Proximity: The Impact of Enhanced Spatial Connectedness from New Bridges on Entrepreneurship," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(4), pages 1620-1644, July.
    25. Nicolas Bédu & Olivier Brossard & Matthieu Montalban, 2024. "Proximity relations and the fate of VC-backed startups: Evidence from a global 33-year-long dataset," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 429-464, April.
    26. Justus Uitermark & Michiel van Meeteren, 2021. "Geographical Network Analysis," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 112(4), pages 337-350, September.
    27. Yael V. Hochberg & Alexander Ljungqvist & Yang Lu, 2007. "Whom You Know Matters: Venture Capital Networks and Investment Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 62(1), pages 251-301, February.
    28. Colombo, Massimo G. & Grilli, Luca, 2010. "On growth drivers of high-tech start-ups: Exploring the role of founders' human capital and venture capital," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 25(6), pages 610-626, November.
    29. Linda Argote & Jerry Guo & Sae-Seul Park & Oliver Hahl, 2022. "The Mechanisms and Components of Knowledge Transfer: The Virtual Special Issue on Knowledge Transfer Within Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 33(3), pages 1232-1249, May.
    30. Jenny María Ruiz-Jiménez & María del Mar Fuentes-Fuentes & Matilde Ruiz-Arroyo, 2016. "Knowledge Combination Capability and Innovation: The Effects of Gender Diversity on Top Management Teams in Technology-Based Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 503-515, May.
    31. Lin, Nan & Liu, Chengyi & Chen, Sicen & Pan, Jianping & Zhang, Pengdong, 2022. "The monitoring role of venture capital on controllers' tunneling: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    32. Wu, Yizhong & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Lee, Chi-Chuan & Peng, Diyun, 2022. "Geographic proximity and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from high-speed rail construction in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    33. Di Guo & Kun Jiang, 2022. "Venture capital investment, intellectual property rights protection and firm innovation: evidence from China," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5-6), pages 434-470, May.
    34. Yatang Lin & Yu Qin & Johan Sulaeman & Jubo Yan & Jialiang Zhang, 2023. "Expanding Footprints: The Impact of Passenger Transportation on Corporate Locations," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 27(3), pages 1119-1154.
    35. Gao, Xue & Rai, Varun, 2023. "Knowledge acquisition and innovation quality: The moderating role of geographical characteristics of technology," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    36. Li, Hui & Wu, Xiaohui & Ye, Ying & Zeng, Qi, 2018. "Venture capitalists' value-enhancing activities under weak protection of law," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 26-40.
    37. Wang, Lan & Lang, Zimo & Duan, Jiayin & Zhang, Hanyu, 2023. "Heterogeneous venture capital and technological innovation network evolution: Corporate reputation as mediating variable," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    38. Duan, Liaoliao & Sun, Weizeng & Zheng, Siqi, 2020. "Transportation network and venture capital mobility: An analysis of air travel and high-speed rail in China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    39. Ittner, Christopher D., 2014. "Strengthening causal inferences in positivist field studies," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 545-549.
    40. Jiangjing Que & Xueyong Zhang, 2020. "The role of foreign and domestic venture capital in innovation: evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(S1), pages 1077-1110, April.
    41. Lan, Xiujuan & Hu, Zheneng & Wen, Chuanhao, 2023. "Does the opening of high-speed rail enhance urban entrepreneurial activity? Evidence from China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    42. Nicolas Bédu & Olivier Brossard & Matthieu Montalban, 2024. "Proximity relations and the fate of VC-backed startups: Evidence from a global 33-year-long dataset," Post-Print hal-04572155, HAL.
    43. Jason Owen-Smith & Walter W. Powell, 2004. "Knowledge Networks as Channels and Conduits: The Effects of Spillovers in the Boston Biotechnology Community," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(1), pages 5-21, February.
    44. Cumming, Douglas & Dai, Na, 2010. "Local bias in venture capital investments," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 362-380, June.
    45. Wadhwa, Anu & Phelps, Corey & Kotha, Suresh, 2016. "Corporate venture capital portfolios and firm innovation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 95-112.
    46. Chu, Chien-Chi & Li, Yong-Li & Li, Shi-Jie & Ji, Yun, 2021. "Uncertainty, venture capital and entrepreneurial enterprise innovation—Evidence from companies listed on China's GEM," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    47. Croce, Annalisa & Martí, José & Murtinu, Samuele, 2013. "The impact of venture capital on the productivity growth of European entrepreneurial firms: ‘Screening’ or ‘value added’ effect?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 489-510.
    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. Gill, Andrej & Heller, David & Michel, Nina A., 2024. "Enabling or accelerating? The timing of innovation and the different roles of venture capitalists," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(8).
    2. Lohwasser, Todor S., 2020. "Meta-analyzing the relative performance of venture capital-backed firms," Discussion Papers of the Institute for Organisational Economics 4/2020, University of Münster, Institute for Organisational Economics.
    3. TIAN, Xiaoli & KOU, Gang & ZHANG, Weike, 2020. "Geographic distance, venture capital and technological performance: Evidence from Chinese enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Giang Nguyen & My Nguyen & Anh Viet Pham & Man Duy Marty Pham, 2023. "Navigating investment decisions with social connectedness : Implications for venture capital," Post-Print hal-04325756, HAL.
    5. Matteo Ambrois & Annalisa Croce & Elisa Ughetto, 2025. "Greening the future: how venture capital nurtures cleantech companies’ growth in Europe," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 65(1), pages 191-229, June.
    6. Alperovych, Yan & Groh, Alexander & Quas, Anita, 2020. "Bridging the equity gap for young innovative companies: The design of effective government venture capital fund programs," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(10).
    7. Nguyen, Giang & Nguyen, My & Pham, Anh Viet & Pham, Man Duy (Marty), 2023. "Navigating investment decisions with social connectedness: Implications for venture capital," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    8. Iqbal Muhammad & Stéphanie Serve, 2025. "Performance of government venture capital (GVC): an Asian perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-34, December.
    9. Amore, Mario Daniele & Murtinu, Samuele & Pelucco, Valerio, 2025. "Family firms in entrepreneurial finance: The case of corporate venture capital," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    10. Bi, Ruigang & Kou, Zonglai & Zhou, Min, 2024. "How to guide venture capital to startups? Evidence from China's Science and Technology Innovation Board," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    11. Esen, Tekin & Dahl, Michael S. & Sorenson, Olav, 2023. "Jockeys, horses or teams? The selection of startups by venture capitalists," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    12. Zhang, Weike & Tian, Xiaoli & Yu, Ao, 2020. "Is high-speed rail a catalyst for the fourth industrial revolution in China? Story of enhanced technology spillovers from venture capital," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    13. Anita Quas & Jose Martí & Carmelo Reverte, 2021. "What money cannot buy: a new approach to measure venture capital ability to add non-financial resources," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1361-1382, October.
    14. Weik, Stefan & Achleitner, Ann-Kristin & Braun, Reiner, 2024. "Venture capital and the international relocation of startups," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(7).
    15. Roma, Paolo & Vasi, Maria & Kolympiris, Christos, 2021. "On the signaling effect of reward-based crowdfunding: (When) do later stage venture capitalists rely more on the crowd than their peers?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(6).
    16. Siyang Tian, 2025. "Cross‐border buyout exit success," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(1), pages 455-476, January.
    17. Annalisa Croce & Luca Grilli & Samuele Murtinu, 2014. "Venture capital enters academia: an analysis of university-managed funds," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(5), pages 688-715, October.
    18. Jörn H. Block & Christian Fisch & Walter Diegel, 2024. "Schumpeterian entrepreneurial digital identity and funding from venture capital firms," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 119-157, February.
    19. Dong, Jianwei & Hsu, Yuan-Teng & Shi, Guoping & Tan, Siyuan, 2025. "Performance hurdles in venture capital fund compensation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    20. Rin, Marco Da & Hellmann, Thomas & Puri, Manju, 2013. "A Survey of Venture Capital Research," Handbook of the Economics of Finance, in: G.M. Constantinides & M. Harris & R. M. Stulz (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Finance, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 573-648, Elsevier.

    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:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05512-5. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/palcomms/ .

    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.