Dynamics of center-periphery patterns in knowledge networks - the case of China's biotech science and technology system

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the evolving spatial and hierarchical structure of China's biotech research network from 2001 to 2009, revealing dynamic changes in center-periphery patterns and system integration.

Contribution

It provides a novel network analysis of China's biotech system, highlighting spatial and hierarchical dynamics and their implications for systems theory.

Findings

Dynamic shifts in center-periphery patterns over time

Integration of Chinese biotech with global knowledge networks

Insights into spatial and hierarchical evolution in science systems

Abstract

Science and technology systems - and their epistemic communities - are usually hierarchical and composed of a number of strong, large, leading organizations, along with a number of smaller and less influential ones. Moreover, these hierarchical patterns have a spatial structure: the leading organizations are concentrated in a few places, creating a science and technology center, whereas the majority of locations are peripheral. In the example of biotech research in China, we found dynamic changes in center-periphery patterns. These results are based on a network analysis of evolving co-authorship networks from 2001 to 2009 that were built combining national and international databases. Therefore, our results are not only relevant for evaluating the spatial structure and dynamics in the Chinese biotech system and its integration into the global knowledge network, but also revive a discussion on persistence and processes of change in the systems theory for sciencebased industries.