Does the Belt and Road Initiative promote international innovation cooperation?

• DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02404-4
• Publication Date: 2023-11-28T04:42:53Z
• Authors: Weiwei Xiao; Qihang Xue; Xing Yi
• Keywords: Promotion (chess); Sample (material)

Abstract International innovation cooperation is crucial to the enhancement of national technological capabilities in context globalization. Does Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as a major international initiative, promote between China BRI partner countries? Taking top 80 global countries capability research sample, this paper uses DID method answer question. The empirical results show that indeed promoted them certain extent. Specifically, it significantly increased proportion their cooperative patents China’s total patents, promotion effect was more obvious for with better economic foundations. Furthermore, mechanism tests indicate shortening institutional distance, strengthening exchange scientific talents, stimulating cultural differences were important mechanisms promoting cooperation. Although did not increase countries’ effectively improved foundations capabilities.