Network stability, connectivity and innovation output

- We establish the co-inventing network and examine the moderate role of network connectivity.
- We classify the individuals into two cohorts: inventors in the largest and in other isolated components.
- We establish the dynamic network that evolves as time flows.

With the patent co-inventing data of top 9 ICT firms with the highest patent application in China, this study establishes the co-inventing network and examines the moderate role of network connectivity, measured by classifying the individuals into two cohorts: inventors in the largest connected component and inventors in other isolated components. The network stability and innovation output demonstrate strong positive interaction, which is significant in not only the largest but also other isolated components. The clustering and centrality demonstrate significant effect on network stability and innovation output in the largest connected component, which is generally the same as that of extant studies. This impact is not significant in the other isolated components, which confirms the moderate role of network connectivity, i.e., fully connected networks constitute the basis for the network structure to be functioning. However, the significantly positive role of the structural hole is not moderated by the network connectivity. The contributions and implications of our findings is discussed at the end of this study.