Empirical study of the relations between the knowledge base and innovation performance of an economy

Purpose – There are many literatures on the factors that affect innovation performance, but few on the effects of knowledge base of an economy on innovation performance. One of the reason is that knowledge base is difficult to measure. Leydesdorff put forward a new method called the triple‐helix model of “technology, organization, and territory” to measure knowledge base of an economy. So, the purpose of this paper is to attempt to validate empirically whether knowledge base in terms of triple‐helix relations among “technology, organization, and territory” has a positive effect on innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach – The authors developed three hypotheses on the basis of reviews, and used multiple regression models and data from the Statistical Yearbook of China to study empirically the relations between knowledge base of an economy, expressed in terms of the triple‐helix relations among “technology, organization, and territory”, and innovation performance. Findings – Not all types of innovation performance are promoted by knowledge base in terms of the triple‐helix relations among “technology, organization, and territory”. The positive effect of knowledge base on patent produced as innovation performance is significant, but is not significant on technology produced and new product development. The technology level and organizational type of a region are important factors that affect patent produced and technology produced. However, their effect on new product development is not significant. “Size of enterprises” can better represent a helix of triple‐helix relations than “ownership of enterprises”. This means that the effect of “size of enterprises” is more direct. Medium‐tech sectors are more important than high‐tech sectors to patent production when the mechanism of interaction and synergy of technology, organization and territory exists. Originality/value – This paper designs multiple regression models in terms of the triple‐helix relations among “technology, organization, and territory”, and helps to put forward some suggestions to enhance the innovation performance of a country or region.