What does this research mean for the field?

Cognitive proximity is the strongest non-spatial driver of intercity university-industry collaboration, while university-based network centrality provides a crucial buffering effect against the redundancy and lock-in caused by excessive cognitive similarity. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how network centrality and actor heterogeneity condition the influence of multidimensional proximities on intercity university–industry collaboration.

September 15, 2026Applied GeographyOpen Access

Proximity, network centrality, and university–industry collaboration: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China

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Authors

YFYang FanChangzhi University WXWei XuUniversity of Lethbridge LXLin XiaoGuangzhou University

Discussion

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Implication

Econometric analysis reveals how multidimensional proximity drives university–industry co-patenting across Chinese cities, indicating university network positions buffer against technological lock-in.

Key Points

To examine how network centrality and actor heterogeneity condition the influence of multidimensional proximities on intercity university–industry collaboration.
Analyzed university–industry co-patent records across Chinese cities from 2006 to 2020.
Estimated gravity-based models using Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood with high-dimensional fixed effects (PPML-HDFE) across intra- and extra-regional contexts.
Cognitive proximity served as the primary non-spatial driver of intercity co-patenting, though excessive cognitive alignment caused partner lock-in and redundancy.
University-based network centrality stably mitigated the proximity paradox by gatekeeping external knowledge, whereas industry-based centrality provided no consistent buffering effect.
Geographical distance remained a stronger deterrent to collaboration than temporal travel time, and organizational proximity promoted linkages while remaining bounded by spatial friction.

Cite This Study

Fan et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa913ba9013453be30a1d02 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2026.104179

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Proximity, network centrality, and university–industry collaboration: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Proximity, network centrality, and university–industry collaboration: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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