The Effects of Intergovernmental Networks on Intercity Collaborative Innovation in China

ABSTRACT The local government wields substantial influence over inter‐jurisdictional interactions in China, underscoring the imperative of governmental analysis pertaining to intercity collaborative innovation. Based on co‐patent data from 21 prefectural cities in Guangdong province, this study investigates the effects of intergovernmental networks on intercity collaborative innovation, with a specific focus on the different impacts of top‐down designed and self‐organised networks. The findings indicate that both the designed and self‐organised intergovernmental networks can promote intercity collaborations regarding innovation. Furthermore, although geographical distance continues to pose a significant barrier to collaborative patents, it has been mitigated by the establishment of intergovernmental networks. This substitution effect is most evident for the networks established through intercity site visits and policy learning. Further analyses indicate that intergovernmental networks have more pronounced impacts on intra‐industrial co‐inventions, primarily resulting from the networking of self‐organised intercity relationships and interactions between developed city‐pairs.