IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jknowl/v16y2025i2d10.1007_s13132-024-02078-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Scientific Collaboration Network Structure and Connectedness Among the “Belt and Road” Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Cui Zhang

    (Jinan University)

  • Xiongjin Feng

    (Yunnan University of Finance and Economics)

  • Yuhui Li

    (Jinan University)

  • Yanzhen Wang

    (Jinan University)

Abstract

While the economic, social, political, and environmental impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have been extensively studied, the scientific collaboration network among the BRI countries has rarely been examined. Based on publication data for 2005–2019, this paper examines the scientific collaboration network structure and connectedness among the BRI countries. Social network analysis indicates that the centrality and density of the scientific collaboration network have been increasingly strengthening. However, the efficiency of the scientific collaboration network needs to be improved. Connectedness analysis shows that there is remarkable scientific research interdependence among major BRI countries. With relatively large connectedness to others, countries such as China and India are the hubs of the scientific connection.

Suggested Citation

  • Cui Zhang & Xiongjin Feng & Yuhui Li & Yanzhen Wang, 2025. "Scientific Collaboration Network Structure and Connectedness Among the “Belt and Road” Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 7908-7933, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:16:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s13132-024-02078-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-024-02078-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13132-024-02078-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13132-024-02078-6?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. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Common transport infrastructure: A quantitative model and estimates from the Belt and Road Initiative," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Jie Zhao, 2023. "Coupling Open Innovation: Network Position, Knowledge Integration Ability, and Innovation Performance," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 1538-1558, June.
    3. Diebold, Francis X. & Yılmaz, Kamil, 2014. "On the network topology of variance decompositions: Measuring the connectedness of financial firms," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 182(1), pages 119-134.
    4. Du, Julan & Zhang, Yifei, 2018. "Does One Belt One Road initiative promote Chinese overseas direct investment?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 189-205.
    5. Hoekman, Jarno & Frenken, Koen & Tijssen, Robert J.W., 2010. "Research collaboration at a distance: Changing spatial patterns of scientific collaboration within Europe," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 662-673, June.
    6. Luís Farinha & João Ferreira & Borges Gouveia, 2016. "Networks of Innovation and Competitiveness: A Triple Helix Case Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 7(1), pages 259-275, March.
    7. Wenhan Ren & Jing Ni & Wen Jiao & Yan Li, 2023. "Explore the key factors of sustainable development: A bibliometric and visual analysis of technological progress," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 492-509, February.
    8. Shi, Kaifang & Yu, Bailang & Huang, Chang & Wu, Jianping & Sun, Xiufeng, 2018. "Exploring spatiotemporal patterns of electric power consumption in countries along the Belt and Road," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 847-859.
    9. Harzing, Anne-Wil & Giroud, Axèle, 2014. "The competitive advantage of nations: An application to academia," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 29-42.
    10. Xiao, Zhaohua & Du, Limin & Wang, Zheng, 2023. "The Belt, the Road, and the carbon emissions in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    11. Yan Wu & Chunlai Chen & Cong Hu, 2021. "Does the Belt and Road Initiative Increase the Carbon Emission Intensity of Participating Countries?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 29(3), pages 1-25, May.
    12. Lun Li & Ferrán Catalá-López & Adolfo Alonso-Arroyo & Jinhui Tian & Rafael Aleixandre-Benavent & Dawid Pieper & Long Ge & Liang Yao & Quan Wang & Kehu Yang, 2016. "The Global Research Collaboration of Network Meta-Analysis: A Social Network Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, September.
    13. Kangjuan Lyu & Daxia Cai & Miao Hao, 2024. "Dynamic Innovation Collaboration Based on Complex Network Analysis: Evidence from the “Belt and Road” Initiative," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 19157-19182, December.
    14. Zeting Liu & Dimitri Uzunidis, 2021. "Globalization of R&D, Accumulation of Knowledge and Network Innovation: the Evolution of the Firm’s Boundaries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(1), pages 166-182, March.
    15. Yu, Linhui & Zhao, Dan & Niu, Haixia & Lu, Futao, 2020. "Does the belt and road initiative expand China's export potential to countries along the belt and road?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    16. Fernando Ascensão & Lenore Fahrig & Anthony P. Clevenger & Richard T. Corlett & Jochen A. G. Jaeger & William F. Laurance & Henrique M. Pereira, 2018. "Environmental challenges for the Belt and Road Initiative," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(5), pages 206-209, May.
    17. Uktam Umurzakov & Shakhnoza Tosheva & Raufhon Salahodjaev, 2023. "Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development: Evidence from Belt and Road Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(1), pages 503-516, March.
    18. Diebold, Francis X. & Yilmaz, Kamil, 2012. "Better to give than to receive: Predictive directional measurement of volatility spillovers," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 57-66.
    19. Zhan Cao & Ben Derudder & Liang Dai & Zhenwei Peng, 2022. "‘Buzz-and-pipeline’ dynamics in Chinese science: the impact of interurban collaboration linkages on cities’ innovation capacity," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(2), pages 290-306, February.
    20. Luigi Aldieri & Maxim N. Kotsemir & Concetto Paolo Vinci, 2020. "The Effects of Collaboration on Research Performance of Universities: an Analysis by Federal District and Scientific Fields in Russia," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(2), pages 766-787, June.
    21. Zhou, Ping & Leydesdorff, Loet, 2006. "The emergence of China as a leading nation in science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 83-104, February.
    22. Jiaofeng Pan & Jianxin Guo, 2022. "Innovative Collaboration and Acceleration: an Integrated Framework Based on Knowledge Transfer and Triple Helix," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(4), pages 3223-3247, December.
    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. Feng, Yusen & Wang, Gang-Jin & Zhu, You & Xie, Chi, 2023. "Systemic risk spillovers and the determinants in the stock markets of the Belt and Road countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    2. Xiao, Zhaohua & Du, Limin & Wang, Zheng, 2023. "The Belt, the Road, and the carbon emissions in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Maoguo Wu & Xierui Han, 2022. "Influence of Economic Openness on Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from China’s Belt and Road Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Liguo Zhang & Cuiting Jiang & Xiang Cai & Jun Wu, 2023. "Dynamic linkages between China’s OFDI, transport, and green economic growth: Empirical evidence from the B&R countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(7), pages 2642-2667, November.
    6. Lu, Shuai & Chen, Ning & Zhou, Wei & Li, Shouwei, 2024. "Impact of the belt and road initiative on trade status and FDI attraction: A local and global network perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 1468-1495.
    7. Yuxin Lu & Joanna Wolszczak‐Derlacz, 2024. "The Belt and Road Initiative and export variety: 1996–2019," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 38(1), pages 171-203, May.
    8. Xixi Du & Yi Qin & Chunbo Huang, 2022. "Status and Prospect of Ecological Environment in the Belt and Road Initiative Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Qinchang Gui & Chengliang Liu & DeBin Du, 2019. "The Structure and Dynamic of Scientific Collaboration Network among Countries along the Belt and Road," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Weiwei Xiao & Qihang Xue & Xing Yi, 2023. "Does the Belt and Road Initiative promote international innovation cooperation?," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Yue Lu & Mengyuan Wang & Junjie Hong & Songbo Wu, 2024. "How does the belt and road initiative promote China's import?," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 394-445, May.
    12. Zhiheng Wu & Guisheng Hou & Baogui Xin, 2020. "Has the Belt and Road Initiative Brought New Opportunities to Countries Along the Routes to Participate in Global Value Chains?," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440209, January.
    13. Jian Chen & Xiao-qin Dong & Wei Li & Di Zhao, 2025. "Third-country investment effects of the belt and road initiative: evidence from China’s overseas direct investment," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 951-978, August.
    14. Shi, Huai-Long & Zhou, Wei-Xing, 2022. "Factor volatility spillover and its implications on factor premia," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    15. Su, Tong & Lin, Boqiang, 2024. "Reassessing the information transmission and pricing influence of Shanghai crude oil futures: A time-varying perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    16. Juncal Cunado & David Gabauer & Rangan Gupta, 2024. "Realized volatility spillovers between energy and metal markets: a time-varying connectedness approach," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    17. Aysan, Ahmet Faruk & Batten, Jonathan & Gozgor, Giray & Khalfaoui, Rabeh & Nanaeva, Zhamal, 2024. "Metaverse and financial markets: A quantile-time-frequency connectedness analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(PB).
    18. Christian Urom & Gideon Ndubuisi & Jude Ozor, 2021. "Economic activity, and financial and commodity markets’ shocks: An analysis of implied volatility indexes," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 165, pages 51-66.
    19. Abdullah, Mohammad & Chowdhury, Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous & Wali Ullah, G.M., 2025. "Asymmetric tail risk dynamics, efficiency and risk spillover among FinTech stocks, cryptocurrencies and traditional assets," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    20. Liow, Kim Hiang & Huang, Yuting, 2018. "The dynamics of volatility connectedness in international real estate investment trusts," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 195-210.

    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:spr:jknowl:v:16:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s13132-024-02078-6. 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: http://www.springer.com .

    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.