Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023

IntroductionBiotechnology has significant potential in public health, offering critical support for communicable disease control, chronic illness management, and drug development. To foster biotechnology innovation, governments increasingly incentivize cooperations among organizations, resulting in...

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Main Authors: Chongfeng Wang, Yifei Wang, Linfeng Zhong, Jie Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1437212/full
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author Chongfeng Wang
Yifei Wang
Linfeng Zhong
Jie Xu
author_facet Chongfeng Wang
Yifei Wang
Linfeng Zhong
Jie Xu
author_sort Chongfeng Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionBiotechnology has significant potential in public health, offering critical support for communicable disease control, chronic illness management, and drug development. To foster biotechnology innovation, governments increasingly incentivize cooperations among organizations, resulting in more interconnected biotechnology cooperation networks. However, research on the evolution of these networks rely primarily on static network analysis and neglect the micromechanisms under the evolution, which lead to deviations in policymaking.MethodsUsing temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM), which accounts for dynamic network correlations, and based on micromechanisms framework consisting of agency, opportunity and inertia, this study analyzes the impacts of both endogenous and exogenous factors on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks.ResultsThe empirical analysis based on China’s biotechnology patent data from 2004 to 2023 reveals the following findings and policy recommendations. First, the evolution of the biotechnology cooperation networks is temporally dependent, highlighting the need for awareness of policy lags. Second, two endogenous factors – transitivity and convergence – emerge in the evolution, implying the need for government to create information platforms, establish targeted project subsidies, and enforce technical confidentiality policies. Finally, with regard to exogenous factors, the networks exhibit geographical homogeneity, implying the needs for government to promote cross-regional cooperation by establishing innovation centers and unified standards to mitigate lock-in effects and barriers.
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spelling doaj-art-45c81ad15fb5482bb7701f8ef2ea69f62025-08-20T02:59:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14372121437212Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023Chongfeng Wang0Yifei Wang1Linfeng Zhong2Jie Xu3Business School, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Mathematic and Statistics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaBusiness School, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaBusiness School, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaIntroductionBiotechnology has significant potential in public health, offering critical support for communicable disease control, chronic illness management, and drug development. To foster biotechnology innovation, governments increasingly incentivize cooperations among organizations, resulting in more interconnected biotechnology cooperation networks. However, research on the evolution of these networks rely primarily on static network analysis and neglect the micromechanisms under the evolution, which lead to deviations in policymaking.MethodsUsing temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM), which accounts for dynamic network correlations, and based on micromechanisms framework consisting of agency, opportunity and inertia, this study analyzes the impacts of both endogenous and exogenous factors on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks.ResultsThe empirical analysis based on China’s biotechnology patent data from 2004 to 2023 reveals the following findings and policy recommendations. First, the evolution of the biotechnology cooperation networks is temporally dependent, highlighting the need for awareness of policy lags. Second, two endogenous factors – transitivity and convergence – emerge in the evolution, implying the need for government to create information platforms, establish targeted project subsidies, and enforce technical confidentiality policies. Finally, with regard to exogenous factors, the networks exhibit geographical homogeneity, implying the needs for government to promote cross-regional cooperation by establishing innovation centers and unified standards to mitigate lock-in effects and barriers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1437212/fullTERGMbiotechnology cooperation networksnetworks evolutiontime dependenceendogenous factorsexogenous factors
spellingShingle Chongfeng Wang
Yifei Wang
Linfeng Zhong
Jie Xu
Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
Frontiers in Public Health
TERGM
biotechnology cooperation networks
networks evolution
time dependence
endogenous factors
exogenous factors
title Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
title_full Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
title_fullStr Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
title_full_unstemmed Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
title_short Research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks – a study based on patent data in China from 2004 to 2023
title_sort research on the evolution of biotechnology cooperation networks a study based on patent data in china from 2004 to 2023
topic TERGM
biotechnology cooperation networks
networks evolution
time dependence
endogenous factors
exogenous factors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1437212/full
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