Agglomeration and flow of innovation elements and the impact on regional innovation efficiency

Knowledge and technology, as representatives of innovation elements' agglomeration, are keys to enhancing regional innovation ability. Based on panel data from 283 Chinese cities spanning 2004-2017, this study determines the regional innovation efficiency and agglomeration of regional innovation elements, and establishes the spatial matrix of innovation element flow. Using spatial econometric and intermediary effect models, the study investigates the spillover effects and transmission mechanism of the agglomeration of innovation elements and their flow on regional innovation efficiency. The regression results demonstrate that the agglomeration of innovation elements, characterised by knowledge and technology, significantly and positively influences innovation efficiency. The agglomeration of regional knowledge has a positive spatial spillover effect on innovation efficiency, while the agglomeration of regional technology has a negative spatial spillover effect. Moreover, the flow of innovative personnel and innovation capital between regions is conducive to the spatial spillover of knowledge, with the positive spillover effect of regional innovation capital being greater than that of innovative personnel. The agglomeration of regional innovation elements can affect regional innovation efficiency through transmission mechanisms such as the opening-up level, ecological environment, and information services.