Evolution of innovation networks in industrial clusters and multidimensional proximity: A case of Chinese cultural clusters

The innovation and optimization of cultural industry clusters is important to the promotion of economic structural transformation and high-quality development. Taking 31 provinces (municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions in China) as the research object, the cross-sectional data included the number of joint patent applications for culture and related industries among provinces (regions) in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020. Then, the cluster innovation network was constructed using social network analysis (SNA) based on scientific identification of cultural industry clusters. This new cluster innovation network structure and its spatial evolution characteristics are accessible with the help of UCINet and ArcGIS tools. Finally, the multiple regression-quadratic assignment procedure (MR-QAP) method is used to determine the influence of geographical proximity, technological proximity, and social proximity on the evolution pattern of the cultural industry cluster innovation network. The results of the study are important for improving the efficiency of national cultural industry innovation and promoting regional synergistic development.