Abstract
Highly skilled talent is pivotal for driving technological innovation, yet the spatial dynamics of intercity talent flows and their influence on new technological specialisations remain insufficiently explored. Using the LinkedIn resume data and invention patent data, this study constructs an intercity talent flow network across 55 Chinese cities and investigates how cities' network positions influence their evolution of technological diversification. The analysis reveals that between 2010 and 2020, the connectivity and efficiency of intercity talent flows increased overall, with Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou consistently occupying central positions; and relatedness density (knowledge complexity) generates a positive (negative) effect on urban technological diversification. A city's centrality within the talent flow network reduces the effects of relatedness density and knowledge complexity, facilitating specialisation in unrelated and complex technologies. Notably, out-degree centrality exerts a stronger influence on fostering unrelated and complex diversification compared to in-degree centrality. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that network centrality exerts stronger moderating effects in non-megacities, postgraduate talent flow networks, and non-digital technological domains. The study concludes with policy recommendations to optimise talent flow networks for enhancing urban innovation and technological diversification. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106453 |
| Journal | Cities |
| Volume | 168 |
| Online published | 11 Sept 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2026 |
Bibliographical note
Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. With consent from the author(s) concerned, the Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the existing academic department affiliation of the author(s).Funding
The research was supported by research grants ( P0048939 and P0039236 ) from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University , a research grant (Project No 9380167 ) from the City University of Hong Kong and a research grant (No. 52408066 ) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China .
Research Keywords
- Degree centrality
- Intercity talent flow
- Knowledge complexity
- Relatedness density
- Urban technological diversification
Publisher's Copyright Statement
- COPYRIGHT TERMS OF DEPOSITED POSTPRINT FILE: © 2025. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
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