Impact of Transnational Research Collaboration on Universities’ Innovation Performance: Panel Data Research of 64 Chinese Universities from 2009 to 2019

Recently, China launched policies to further internationalize Chinese universities, including the “First-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines Project” (Double First-Class Project), which highlights the importance of increasing transnational research collaboration activities. However, little is known about the actual impacts of these national initiatives on universities’ transnational research collaboration activities. Research on the impact of the involvement of transnational research collaboration on universities’ innovation performance is lacking. The purpose of this study was (1) to further understand the link between the involvement of transnational research collaboration and the innovation performance of universities and (2) to examine the relation between the “Double First-Class Project” and transnational research collaboration in Chinese universities. Through collecting and analyzing 576 panel data (a combination of cross-sectional series data and time series data) on the involvement of transnational research collaboration and the innovation performance of 64 universities from 2009 to 2019, the study manifested a positive correlation between the involvement of transnational research collaboration and the innovation performance of universities. The study further indicated the national key university initiative had a direct positive impact. More meso-level studies and a more open international mindset from policymakers to maintain the sustainable development of research and innovation globally are needed.