The impact of network embeddedness on construction safety innovation: evidence from patents in China’s construction industry

Purpose Despite innovation network being crucial for continuously improving construction safety innovation (CSIP), few studies have examined how collaboration and knowledge networks influence safety innovation in the construction context. Based on the network embeddedness theory, this research investigated the impacts of construction firms’ relational and structural embeddedness in the collaboration and knowledge networks on CSIP, where partner diversity (PD) and knowledge breadth (KB) were considered as the mediators. Design/methodology/approach The knowledge network and collaboration network were established using 15,109 patent data regarding the CSIP in China’s construction industry. The hypothetical relationships between network embeddedness and CSIP were validated using the negative binomial regression. Findings The results indicated that construction firms with higher embeddedness in the collaboration network tend to have more safety-related innovations. PD and KB mediated the effects of collaboration network embeddedness on CSIP. Relational embeddedness in the knowledge network could strengthen the effects of collaboration network embeddedness on the CSIP and KB. Originality/value This research gives a novel theoretical perspective to understand how multiple networks foster CSIP. Besides, this research provides practical guidance for construction firms aiming to enhance safety innovation capacities by simultaneously developing collaboration networks and knowledge networks.