How Dual-Network Synergy Impacts University Research Performance: A Linkage Analysis of University and Enterprise Innovation Networks

How Dual-Network Synergy Impacts University Research Performance: A Linkage Analysis of University and Enterprise Innovation Networks | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article How Dual-Network Synergy Impacts University Research Performance: A Linkage Analysis of University and Enterprise Innovation Networks Manli Shi, Luo Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8827848/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The synergy between university-industry dual innovation networks is of great significance to national higher education, and the improvement of university research performance is the core and strategic priority for the high-quality development of higher education. Focusing on the impact of dual-network synergy on university research performance, this paper first sorts out the internal mechanism from a theoretical perspective and constructs a relevant index system for networks and research performance. Considering the time lag in enterprises' acquisition of invention patents, this study conducts an empirical test using multiple econometric models based on provincial panel data from 2011 to 2021. The research findings are as follows: First, dual-network synergy exerts a significant positive impact on university research performance, and this conclusion remains valid after multiple robustness tests. Second, this impact exhibits heterogeneous characteristics in terms of regional and potential differences: at the regional level, only universities in the western region benefit from positive promotion, while the effects in the eastern and central regions are not significant; at the potential level, the synergistic linkage plays a facilitating role only when the development levels of university and enterprise innovation networks are consistent in direction. Third, the action paths include promoting the digitalization level of universities and strengthening the synergy among the functions of talent training, scientific research, and social services. This study clarifies the relevant action mechanisms and can provide references for the government to formulate policies on higher education and regional innovation development. Dual-network collaboration University innovation networks Enterprise innovation networks University research performance Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8827848","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":590860390,"identity":"fb4b167b-ff44-4571-b177-c907d3705ac3","order_by":0,"name":"Manli Shi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Huazhong University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Manli","middleName":"","lastName":"Shi","suffix":""},{"id":590860391,"identity":"b084c39e-14f7-4fef-935a-3a80484357fa","order_by":1,"name":"Luo Zhang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/0lEQVRIie3OMUvDQBTA8QuB6/LSrO8I1K/wIFDc/CophUw3dMykLcJ1aXC1gx/CRR0vBOJy7t20FDJ16CQEMngFN21SN4f7D8e9gx/vGHO5/mOvi8X2kOGNGtxW309JDzFlGaO59O6gSu1IZ5BNmmKgMm99L8fnkaGWhGjQJy0/d9C2LBxIYs3LaSK0IZplyEm/PceBIiZWe/Jyc5pQsaLEbgEq8qcomBOjjSTfUx2kBNKBQrSXOoKW2FUvqfhkbgkJBTwCbrdgDxHGL337sSQEPhYPKgY09azIO8jwfbtsDtl1wi92Ne7b0ShcTh8/mg7yIzge+g/A5XK5XL/0BdycUtj4zRxiAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Huazhong University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Luo","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-09 08:38:28","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8827848/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8827848/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104418196,"identity":"991d26e5-1719-44b7-8c73-8f5a1199239e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-11 13:22:42","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":586370,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript0209.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8827848/v1_covered_c0bbcae6-3bbe-4425-83d0-37486e3edf20.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"How Dual-Network Synergy Impacts University Research Performance: A Linkage Analysis of University and Enterprise Innovation Networks","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Dual-network collaboration, University innovation networks, Enterprise innovation networks, University research performance","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8827848/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8827848/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe synergy between university-industry dual innovation networks is of great significance to national higher education, and the improvement of university research performance is the core and strategic priority for the high-quality development of higher education. 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