An Analytical Framework for Cross-border Regional Innovation Ecosystems: The Case of Shenzhen–Hong Kong Cross-border Region

In cross-border regions (CBRs), especially in Cross-Border Regional Innovation Systems (CBRISs) research, proximity has traditionally served as the primary framework for measuring cross-border integration and supports the view that the closer the proximity on both sides of the border in terms of physical, functional, cognitive, institutional and other dimensions, the more integration is fostered. Recently, however, this view has been questioned, with both theoretical studies of ‘related varieties’ and empirical results from specific cross-border cases challenging the adequacy of the proximity framework as a singular dimension for analysing CBR integration. To bridge this knowledge gap, this paper expands the proximity framework to four dimensions of relational proximity, innovation ecological environment integration, complementary advantages and common goals from the perspective of innovation ecosystem, builds an analytical assessment framework of cross-border regional innovation ecosystem (CBRIE), and conducts an empirical analysis of the Shenzhen–Hong Kong CBR. The results show that the framework accounts well for the development of CBRIEs. Furthermore, the exchange of innovation factors between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has made greater progress and accelerated, and is moving towards building an innovation ecosystem. However, they have not yet formed a complete CBRIE.