Abstract:

In recent years, university-enterprise collaborative research and development (R&D) has emerged as a key strategy for enhancing innovation quality, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, there is limited in-depth research in the academic literature regarding the role of university-enterprise collaboration in driving patent innovation within national “Little Giant” enterprises. This study examines the impact of university-enterprise collaborative R&D on patent innovation quality, based on invention patents granted to “Little Giant” enterprises. The key findings are as follows. First, university-enterprise collaborative R&D significantly enhances the innovation quality of patents. Second, it improves patent innovation quality by facilitating information sharing between universities and enterprises. Third, “Little Giant” enterprises collaborating with “211” universities, science and engineering or comprehensive institutions, and those that are medium to large-sized or located in eastern regions, gain greater benefits from university-enterprise collaborative R&D. Finally, extensive collaborative R&D with multiple universities helps enterprises acquire a broader range of information, fostering knowledge flow and improving patent quality, whereas sustained collaboration with a single university may hinder patent innovation quality. This study provides insights into the current state and mechanisms of university–enterprise collaborative R&D, offering valuable implications for improving the effectiveness of such partnership.

Key words: university-enterprise collaborative R&D, innovation quality, information sharing, national "Little Giant" enterprises