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Enterprise's R&D and Innovation Management

The Impact of Network Structure Heterogeneity on Break⁃ throughs of Key Core Technologies by Digital Enterprises 

Liu Hedong , Xiang Yufeng 

(College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, China)

Abstract: In the current context of the "stuck neck" dilemma faced by China's digital indus⁃ try, it is necessary to take the national strategic needs as guidance and resolutely win the key core technology battle. Breakthroughs in key core technologies are difficult to achieve only by a single enterprise. Implementing open innovation embedded in networks is an important way for digital enterprises to break through key core technologies. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to clarify the mechanism by which the heterogeneity of network structure affects enterprises to break through key core technologies. Based on this background, this paper aims to analyze the mechanism black box of network structure heterogeneity (point centrality and structure hole) based on knowledge acquisition on the breakthrough of key core technologies in the digital industry, build a threshold effect model, and collect relevant datas on network structure heterogeneity, knowledge acquisition and key core technologies of 133 listed companies in the digital industry in China from 2012 to 2021. Measure and compare the heterogeneity of network structure and its impact on enterprises to break through key core technologies through knowledge acquisition. The empirical results show that: ①The impact of network structure heterogeneity on the breakthrough of key core technolo⁃ gies is different: point centrality is positive, and the structural hole is negative. The reason is that when an enterprise is in a central position in the innovation network, it can acquire more interdis⁃ ciplinary and cross-domain heterogeneous knowledge. In the position with few structural holes, the deepening of inter-organizational trust facilitates the acquisition of tacit knowledge. ② Knowledge acquisition has a different mediating effect between network structure heterogeneity and enterprise breakthrough key core technology: centrality is a partial mediating effect, but structure hole is a complete mediating effect. On the one hand, point centrality affects the recep⁃ tion of other innovative resources (human, financial, material, information, etc.), and directly pro⁃ motes the breakthrough of key core technologies. On the other hand, by influencing the acquisi⁃ tion of external heterogeneous knowledge, it promotes the absorption and integration of tacit knowledge, which is conducive to the breakthrough of key core technologies for enterprises. The fewer the structural holes, the greater the quantity and quality of heterogeneous knowledge ac⁃ quired by enterprises, the more beneficial it is to break through the key core technologies.③Ab⁃ sorption capacity regulates the role of knowledge acquisition in promoting enterprises to break through key core technologies, positive increasingly. The improvement of the absorptive capacity of enterprises can accelerate the process of identifying, screening, digesting and absorbing exter⁃ nal knowledge. When external knowledge is coupled with internal knowledge, absorptive capac⁃ ity can improve the efficiency of knowledge reorganization and promote the positive impact of knowledge acquisition on the breakthrough of key core technologies. Based on the above conclusions, enterprises should give full play to the efficiency of net⁃ work structure heterogeneity, effectively play the intermediary role of knowledge acquisition, and promote enterprises to break through key core technologies. In addition, enterprises should focus on improving their own knowledge absorption capacity, increase research and development in⁃ vestment, accelerate internal knowledge transformation, and break through key core technologies more smoothly. 

Key words: heterogeneity of network structure; knowledge acquisition; absorptive capacity; key core technologies; threshold effect