The Impact of Supply Chain Network Embeddedness on Firms’ General-Purpose Technology Innovation

Authors

  • Zuxuan Yu School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/8vnp2821

Keywords:

Supply chain network; Complex networks; General purpose technologies; Technological innovation.

Abstract

With the gradual refinement of the division of labor in the market, suppliers in the upstream of the supply chain and customers in the downstream have become increasingly closely connected, forming a supply chain network among firms. As one of the important components of the social network in which firms are located, the supply chain network also affects the innovation activities of firms. Under the severe situation of “bottlenecking” of key common technologies in the industry, it is especially important to study the innovation effect and mechanism of the embedded position of firms in the supply relationship structure. In this theoretical and practical context, this study focuses on collecting supply chain data of the biopharmaceutical industry, constructing a biopharmaceutical supply chain network, using tools such as UCINET for social network analysis, identifying key core common technologies of the biopharmaceutical industry based on patent data, and finally constructing and validating the research model. The research process mainly explores two key issues: firstly, the impact of firm centrality on firm General-Purpose Technologies (GPTs) innovation; and secondly, the impact of structural holes on firm General-Purpose Technologies.

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Published

27-11-2025

How to Cite

Yu, Z. (2025). The Impact of Supply Chain Network Embeddedness on Firms’ General-Purpose Technology Innovation. Transactions on Economics, Business and Management Research, 15, 272-285. https://doi.org/10.62051/8vnp2821