Collaborative network, technological progress and potato production in China

Abstract Development of science and technology is one of the vital driven forces for the Chinese agricultural development. Based on 2,513 valid potato invention patents from 1986–2019 in China, a social network analysis is applied to investigate the effects of network changes of potato patents on the innovation activities and potato production. The results show that China has formed a status quo of separation between potato producing areas and patent invention places. Collaborative relationships of potato patents mainly distribute in the non-main production areas. Most of the collaborations are intra-provincial rather than inter-provincial. The correlation relationship between potato innovation and potato yield is positive. But the density and cluster coefficient of collaborative networks in potato research affect the potato innovations differently. Considering the variation of collaborative network and different technology progress in potato production across regions, a cross-regional exchange platform is needed to promote the dissemination and promotion of potato patents in the main potato producing areas.