Intercity coopetition and regional innovation: The role of urban polycentricity

Intercity coopetition—the dynamic interplay between cooperation and competition—is central to regional innovation, enabling knowledge exchange across cities. However, the spatial organization of these dynamics among functionally diverse cities and their implications for regional innovation outcomes remain underexplored. This study examines how urban polycentricity, captured through the balance of intercity coopetition relations, affects regional innovation performance. Methodologically, we develop an intercity coopetition index that incorporates both geographical overlap in collaboration networks and technological proximity. Empirically, we draw on longitudinal patent co-application data from nineteen Chinese urban regions between 1990 and 2022. Using fixed effect and instrumental variables models, we find that a balance in cooperation alone has a negative effect on regional innovation. In contrast, regional innovation performance is driven by the interaction between the strength of competitive ties and the balance of competition across cities. We conclude by discussing the policy implications of these findings for fostering spatially coordinated innovation systems.