Innovation Convergence: A System Review

Innovation convergence is a key concept in studying the innovation gap between different entities. However, existing literature presents significant discrepancies in understanding its driving factors and mechanisms. Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to reconcile the divergent perspectives in the current research by conducting a systematic review of innovation convergence literature and summarizing the general principles of innovation convergence. By systematically reviewing the literature on innovation convergence published between 1990 and 2021, this paper provides a comprehensive summary of the theoretical foundations, empirical methods, and key research findings. Additionally, the paper rigorously selects literature covering fields such as economic growth, technological catch-up, and technology diffusion, employing bibliometric analysis to delve into the disciplinary distribution, research hotspots, journal sources, and co-citation relationships in innovation convergence studies. The findings of this paper indicate that the driving factors and mechanisms of innovation convergence differ significantly between the international and regional levels, and in some cases, are even contradictory. For instance, in the international domain, trade fosters innovation convergence by facilitating technological diffusion and enhancing the expected returns on innovation, yet it simultaneously exacerbates regional innovation disparities. On the other hand, in the regional domain, transportation and information and communication technology can expand the boundaries of knowledge spillovers and drive the development of urban clusters, thereby promoting regional innovation convergence. This paper systematically analyzes the driving factors and mechanisms of innovation convergence, effectively reconciling the significant divergences in the existing literature. Finally, the paper not only summarizes the main findings of current research but also proposes future research directions, including further exploration of the roles of technological spillovers and regional policies in promoting innovation convergence. The results provide practical recommendations for policymakers, contributing to the reduction of innovation disparities at both international and regional levels.