The evolution of global cross-border R&D investment: A network analysis integrating geographical thinking

As one of the manifestations of economic globalization, cross-border research and development (R&D) investment of multinational enterprises (MNEs) has become an important way for innovation resources to flow in the world and constitute a worldwide R&D network. The country's position within the network has undergone a gradual evolution, but fewer studies have concentrated on the alterations to the network structure they have brought about and the factors affecting them. Our study of global cross-border R&D investment sheds light on the interactions of the global network within its singular context of country-level determinants, its internal network structure and geographical patterns. The findings suggest that global cross-border R&D investment has formed a stable geographical distribution pattern, and a complete but heterogeneous network structure, including a hierarchical structure and a core-periphery structure, while country features such as technological strength, skill levels, market potential, and economic development not only set the pace of cross-border R&D investment, but that they also influence both the network structure and the power positions of each node. Implications are discussed. •MNEs have started developing cross-border R&D investment strategies, and R&D globalization has become the future trend.•Global cross-border R&D investments have possessed a stable geographical pattern with spatial heterogeneity.•The global cross-border R&D investment network has an obvious hierarchical and a core-periphery structure.•Country characteristics have a significant effect on the power positions of each node in the network.