Research On The Synergy Of Multidimensional Proximities Oriented To Industry Cluster Innovation

Industrial cluster is an important carrier of innovation,cluster offers many potential advantages in innovation compared to an isolated enterprise.However,not all industrial clusters are thriving,different industrial clusters show significant difference in innovation ability and innovation performance.Although all clusters are close in geography,the result is a far cry from.Obviously,It is difficult to explain only from a purely geographical proximity.Innovation is a complex joint of spatial and non-spatial factors.It is not only the geographical proximity but also cognitive proximity and institutional proximity are associated with the interaction among the economic subjects.It might have a better understanding of the cluster innovation only by expanding the concept of proximity and analyzing from the perspective of multidimensional proximities.More and more scholars have begun to explore the influence on innovation of geographical proximity,cognitive proximity,and so on.But most of them studied the role of different proximities respectively,without sufficient theory involves the interaction and dynamic among different proximities.In practice,all kinds of proximities always work together dynamically for cluster innovation.Therefore,it has stronger theory and practical significance to research on the synergy of multidimensional proximities on industry cluster innovation.Based on the theory of industrial cluster,innovation theory and new economic geography theory,knowledge management,and other related theories,using multiple case studies,hierarchical regression analysis,system dynamics,this paper takes "how the multidimensional proximity synergy on industry cluster innovation" as the core problem and "elements-structure-function" in system theory as the basic logic,builds the analysis framework of multidimensional proximities how to affect industry cluster innovation,analyzes concretely the paths and mechanism of multidimensional proximities synergy on cluster innovation,and studies the dynamic effects of the multidimensional proximity on cluster innovation performance from the different evolution stages of industrial cluster and the different combinations of multidimensional proximities.The main research work and points of view in this paper are as follows:(1)The analysis framework that multidimensional proximities influence on industrial cluster innovation have been constructed.Based on the identification and definition of multidimensional proximities of industrial clusters,namely geographicalproximity,cognitive proximity,institutional proximity,the concept of proximity potential energy were proposed,and the logical frame of multidimensional proximities-potential energy-innovation kinetic energy-innovation performance has also been builded.That is to say,the cluster subjects of multidimensional proximities located in such a cluster "innovation field",have formed a powerful proximity potential energy.The potential energy can turn into innovation kinetic energy in the process of interaction among cluster subjects,further innovation kinetic energy promotes innovation ability and speed,and futher enhances cluster innovation.(2)The synergic path and mechanism of multidimensional proximities to industry cluster innovation have been deeply explored.The author chose five representative industry clusters to survey and interview,and the grounded theory analysis method was used to code for the collected qualitative datas.The results showed that it mainly include three paths such as direct effect,indirect effect and external effect that multidimensional proximities synergy on industrial cluster innovation.At the same time,the results revealed the mechanism that multidimensional proximities synergy on industrial cluster innovation.In the process of industrial cluster innovation,geographical proximity,cognitive proximity and institutional proximity are independent of each other and close connected too,and contribute to the interaction and knowledge transfer among the cluster subjects in a different way.Geographical proximity is enabled factor and is acceleration mechanism;Cognitive proximity is bridge factor and is the core transmission mechanism;Institutional proximity is environmental factor and is coordination mechanism.The three proximities also are complement and strengthen each other,synergy to promote the cluster innovation.Geographical proximity together with institutional proximity make the subjects of cognitive proximity manage their similarity more effectively and realize greater combination,and at last make cognitive proximity play a bigger role,and create greater value.(3)According to the industrial cluster evolution stages and different characteristics,the dynamic infulence of multidimensional proximities were studied.237 samples were chosen and hierarchical regression analysis method was used.The results showed that the geographical proximity plays a leading role in the formation stage;cognitive proximity plays a leading role in the growth stage;In the mature stage,institutional proximity plays a leading role.In addition,it was examined that the adjustment role of innovation support as a moderator variable between multidimensional proximities and cluster innovation.It found that the support of innovation activities has differentadjustment role in different stages.(4)The influence of different combinations of multidimensional proximities on industry cluster innovation was studied.Geographical proximity subsystem,cognitive proximity subsystem and institutional proximity subsystem were respectively established through analyzing deeply logical relationship among the elements in the process of cluster innovation.After this,the total system dynamics model was established according to the relationship among the three proximities.Then the different combination of multidimensional proximities scene models were set to simulate.The results showed that within the moderate scope the increase of any of proximity is beneficial to the growth of cluster innovation performance.But beyond a certain boundary the increase of any kind of proximity will have a negative impact on the cluster innovation performance.This negative effect can be compensated by different combinations of other proximities.The theoretical contribution of this paper is that this study broken the limits of the single proximity explaining the cluster innovation,incorporated the mutual correlation and dynamic of multidimensional proximities into the existing research framework,constructed a theorical framework of multidimensional proximities synergy on cluster innovation,and revealed the nature of multidimensional proximities infulence on the cluster innovation.This paper points out that the problem of multidimensional proximities is not the the problem of far or close,but the the problem of resources structure.The innovation and development of industrial cluster is not the problem of resources agglomeration,but the the problem of optimal allocation of resources.Its practical significance lies in the guidance of industrial cluster formation and structure optimization.The management department should pay more attention to maintain moderate cognitive proximity when promoting geographical proximity among cluster subjects,and adjust polices with the diffferent development stages of industrial cluster.In the long run,management department should comprehensively consider the correlation among regional different industries in geographical proximity,and set up a long-term plan of industrial symbiosis.