Varieties of regional innovation systems around the world and catch-up by latecomers
利用2000-2017年全球33个地区的专利引用数据，识别出四种区域创新体系类型，并发现国内所有权和本地知识创造是新兴经济体实现技术追赶的关键驱动因素。
Abstract This study represents one of the first attempts to develop a global typology of regional innovation systems (RIS) across both advanced and catching-up economies, identifying distinct pathways for regional technological catch-up. Utilizing United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent citation data from 33 regions worldwide over the period 2000–2017, we construct several RIS indicators, including intra-regional, inter-regional, and international knowledge sourcing, alongside domestic ownership of innovation. Through cluster analysis, we identify four primary RIS configurations and examine their relationship with economic performance: Group 1: large and mature RIS, characterized by long-cycle technology specialization and high domestic ownership; Group 2: mixed RIS, featuring long-cycle specialization but low domestic ownership; Group 3: strong catch-up RIS, defined by short-cycle technology specialization and high domestic ownership; Group 4: weak catch-up RIS, involving short-cycle specialization with low domestic ownership. While Groups 3 and 4 consist exclusively of emerging economies specializing in similar short-cycle technology sectors, they exhibit divergent levels of economic performance. Ultimately, the analysis identifies two empirically distinct catch-up trajectories: a “stronger” pathway driven by increasing domestic ownership and the localization of knowledge creation and a “weaker” pathway characterized by persistent dependence on foreign knowledge sources. Our findings suggest that domestic ownership and the emergence of large-scale enterprises are critical drivers of localized knowledge sourcing and sustained catch-up.