Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Location Choice Differentiation of Multinational Corporations' R&D Investments in China
Li Tingzhu1, Huang Xiaodong2, Du Debin3
1. Research Institute of Central Jiangsu Development,Yangzhou University,Yangzhou 225009,China; 2. Institute of Surveyingand Mapping,Information Engineering University,Zhengzhou 450001,China; 3. School of Geographic Sciences,East ChinaNormal University,Shanghai 200062,China
Abstract：This paper uses the fDi Markets database to analyze the differentiation of spatiotemporal evolution and location choice of MNCs' R&D investment in China from 2003 to 2022 by distinguishing between research and development and using GIS spatial methods and conditional Logit models.The main findings are as follows.①The overall evolution of MNCs' R&D investment in China from 2003 to 2022 is non-linear and unstable,and has the characteristics of stage development,among which research investment accounts for a relatively low proportion,while development investment always occupies a dominant position.②MNCs' R&D investment in China is dominated by a few industry clusters such as ICT & electronics,life sciences and transport equipment,with obvious changes in industrial structure,among which the industrial concentration of development investment is higher than that of research investment.③Destination cities of MNCs' R&D investment in China mainly distribute in the eastern region with Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei,Yangtze River Delta,Pearl River Delta as the core,and there is a trend of scattering to a few cities in the central and western and northeastern regions,generally forming a northeast-southwest spatial pattern,in which the spatial evolution characteristics of research investment and development investment differ significantly.④Technology and knowledge innovation capability is the primary factors influencing the location choice of MNCs' research investment in China,while the level of market scale is stronger attracting investments in development activities.Meanwhile,economic development,industrial structure,foreign investment scale and other city attributes also have certain influence on MNCs' R&D investment in China.
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