Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area

Abstract As urban areas serve as spatial carriers for innovation activities, exploring the interaction between innovation and urban spaces has become a research hotspot. Previous studies have primarily focused on urban innovation capacity assessment and measurement, with less attention given to the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shumin Wang, Hao Liu, Yingcheng Li, Mingxing Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-01-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04385-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585969726914560
author Shumin Wang
Hao Liu
Yingcheng Li
Mingxing Hu
author_facet Shumin Wang
Hao Liu
Yingcheng Li
Mingxing Hu
author_sort Shumin Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract As urban areas serve as spatial carriers for innovation activities, exploring the interaction between innovation and urban spaces has become a research hotspot. Previous studies have primarily focused on urban innovation capacity assessment and measurement, with less attention given to the urban innovation potential and issues such as insufficient granularity of research and weak stability in factor weighting. In this study, an urban spatial innovation potential measurement system was proposed from a demand-side perspective, the structural equation model (SEM) was employed to investigate the direct and indirect influences of factors, and micro-scale empirical analysis was conducted in the main urban area of Suzhou, China. Coupling and coordination with innovation outputs were analyzed. The results revealed that (1) the innovation potential exhibits significant spatial clustering characteristics; (2) there is clear core-periphery spatial differentiation in the innovation potential, demonstrating decreasing spatial diffusion effects with distance from the center; and (3) only 8.18% of the plots in the study area occur at the harmonized innovation coupling stage, indicating that the overall innovation conversion efficiency should be improved. This study aimed to provide a sound basis and practical references for optimizing the layout and improving the quality of urban innovation spaces from a detailed scale perspective, thereby enhancing urban competitiveness.
format Article
id doaj-art-1c6473d3cc504ad9aac67966e1d56815
institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-1c6473d3cc504ad9aac67966e1d568152025-01-26T12:20:27ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-01-0112111710.1057/s41599-025-04385-yExploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban areaShumin Wang0Hao Liu1Yingcheng Li2Mingxing Hu3School of Architecture, Southeast UniversitySchool of Architecture, Southeast UniversitySchool of Architecture, Southeast UniversitySchool of Architecture, Southeast UniversityAbstract As urban areas serve as spatial carriers for innovation activities, exploring the interaction between innovation and urban spaces has become a research hotspot. Previous studies have primarily focused on urban innovation capacity assessment and measurement, with less attention given to the urban innovation potential and issues such as insufficient granularity of research and weak stability in factor weighting. In this study, an urban spatial innovation potential measurement system was proposed from a demand-side perspective, the structural equation model (SEM) was employed to investigate the direct and indirect influences of factors, and micro-scale empirical analysis was conducted in the main urban area of Suzhou, China. Coupling and coordination with innovation outputs were analyzed. The results revealed that (1) the innovation potential exhibits significant spatial clustering characteristics; (2) there is clear core-periphery spatial differentiation in the innovation potential, demonstrating decreasing spatial diffusion effects with distance from the center; and (3) only 8.18% of the plots in the study area occur at the harmonized innovation coupling stage, indicating that the overall innovation conversion efficiency should be improved. This study aimed to provide a sound basis and practical references for optimizing the layout and improving the quality of urban innovation spaces from a detailed scale perspective, thereby enhancing urban competitiveness.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04385-y
spellingShingle Shumin Wang
Hao Liu
Yingcheng Li
Mingxing Hu
Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
title_full Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
title_fullStr Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
title_short Exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale: a case study of Suzhou’s main urban area
title_sort exploring the innovation potential of urban space at the micro scale a case study of suzhou s main urban area
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04385-y
work_keys_str_mv AT shuminwang exploringtheinnovationpotentialofurbanspaceatthemicroscaleacasestudyofsuzhousmainurbanarea
AT haoliu exploringtheinnovationpotentialofurbanspaceatthemicroscaleacasestudyofsuzhousmainurbanarea
AT yingchengli exploringtheinnovationpotentialofurbanspaceatthemicroscaleacasestudyofsuzhousmainurbanarea
AT mingxinghu exploringtheinnovationpotentialofurbanspaceatthemicroscaleacasestudyofsuzhousmainurbanarea