The effect of clique diversity on the innovation performance of research units: evidence from quantum communication networks

Research units play a crucial role in the scientific system, with their innovation performance becoming a key measure of science policy effectiveness. However, few studies explore the close interactions between research units from a meso-level perspective and their impact on innovation. Cliques, representing cognitive capital, are characterized by close internal connections and high trust. This study uses this concept to examine interactions between research units and introduces two indicators, clique institutional diversity and geographical diversity, to analyze their effects on innovation performance. Additionally, it investigates the moderating roles of relationship intensity (representing relational capital) and structural holes (representing structural capital). Using data from 9,094 papers in the quantum communication field from 2007 to 2021, we constructed an annual collaboration network of 533 research units, yielding 1,522 unbalanced panel data points. Tobit model results show that clique diversity significantly enhances innovation performance. Moreover, relationship intensity negatively moderates the positive relationship between geographical diversity and innovation, while structural holes positively moderate the impact of both types of clique diversity. This study extends the theoretical framework on how different dimensions of social capital jointly influence innovation performance, offering valuable insights for managing research units.