Block model analysis of the inter-regional knowledge exchange in China

Taking advantage of the Chinese patent data in the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), this paper examines characteristic of inter-regional knowledge exchange patterns in China from 1985 to 2007. The block model analysis reveals the inter-regional network of China appears some characteristics of core-periphery structure. The most active knowledge exchange occurred in members of the core block composed by the most advanced provinces in China while the members of the periphery block from less favored regions have few or no local and extra-local knowledge exchange. Building a successful knowledge transfer networks would improve much the innovation capacities in less favored regions and help them break from their “locked-in” development trajectories.