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Mapping Hong Kong’s academic collaboration networks: investigating its role in a cross-border regional innovation system

Yue GuoFollow

Document Type

Research-Article

Author

Yun Wang, Raymond Aitibasa Atanga, Yue Guo, Xihong Liu, Ningning Zhang, Yi Liu

Journal Name

Scientometrics

Keywords

Academic collaboration, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong, Innovation geography, Network

Abstract

Hong Kong’s uniqueness as a regional and global bridge city enriches the cross-border regional innovation system theory (CBRIS) and structural hole theory. This study employs bibliometric analysis of Web of Science data (1997–2020) to examine Hong Kong’s significant role in facilitating scientific collaboration within the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), noting that recent geopolitical changes, such as the implementation of the National Security Law and the U.S.-China tech decoupling, may alter these dynamics. The findings further reveal that: (1) Hong Kong serves as an optimal node for bidirectional exchanges. It is highly internationalized and has extensive partnerships, especially with advanced economies in Europe and the U.S. At the same time, Hong Kong maintains strong ties with the Chinese mainland, as evidenced by the “Guangdong-Hong Kong Science and Technology Corridor,” a vital axis for scientific collaboration within the GBA. (2) As a center for scientific collaboration, Hong Kong possesses unique advantages and strategies across various fields. These findings collectively redefine Hong Kong’s strategic position, not merely as a passive bridge but as an active bidirectional knowledge intermediary. As an empirical investigation of the CBRIS, the study offers practical guidance for promoting cross-border regional scientific collaboration in similar regions. Theoretically, the study initially explores how cross-border regional innovation and cooperation operate in response to internal and external dynamics. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-025-05432-w

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