Key core technology innovation through collaborative networks: examining the Chinese chip industry

Purpose Based on social networks, knowledge recombination and absorptive capacity theories, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of collaboration depth and breadth on key core technology innovation and also explore the mediating role of knowledge recombinant creation capability and the moderating effect of knowledge network cohesion. Design/methodology/approach After controlling for endogenous factors by using the instrumental variable (IV) method, this paper conducts hypothesis testing on the sample data of Chinese chip enterprises from 2005 to 2020 using the negative binomial regression method. Then, Poisson regression is also used for robustness testing. Findings This paper found that collaboration depth has an inverted U-shaped effect on key core technology innovation, whereas collaboration breadth has a positive effect. Knowledge recombinant creation capability plays a mediating role in the relationship between collaboration depth and breadth and key core technology innovation. On the one hand, the global cohesion of a knowledge network weakens the inverted U-shaped relationship between collaboration depth and knowledge recombinant creation capability, as well as the positive impact of collaboration breadth on knowledge recombinant creation capability. On the other hand, the local cohesion of a knowledge network strengthens both of these. Originality/value We contribute to the research in social network theory, knowledge recombination theory and absorptive capacity theory from the perspective of key core technology innovation, providing insights that could help the Chinese chip industry successfully achieve key core technology innovation.