Can the Application of Industrial Robots Drive Enterprise Feeding Basic Scientific Research?
Can the widespread application of industrial robots in the field of production and manufacturing have a transmission effect on the front-end links of technological innovation,thereby promoting basic scientific research activities?Based on this issue,this article analyzes the impact of industrial robot applications on the investment in basic scientific research of enterprises from the perspective of"production research"reverse transmission.Through this,the endogenous driving force for promoting basic scientific research in enterprises is explored from within the production organization system.Empirical analysis is conducted based on data from industrial enterprises above designated size at the provincial level in China from 2010 to 2019.Research has found that the driving effect of industrial robot applications on enterprises'feedback to basic scientific research exhibits a U-shaped characteristic.When the penetration of industrial robots is weak,industrial robots first exert strong response in downstream links of the innovation chain and occupy R&D resources in upstream links.This leads to insufficient investment in basic research resources of enterprises.Only when the penetration of industrial robots reaches a certain level can industrial robot applications play a significant role in upstream links of the innovation chain,thereby promoting investment in basic research resources of enterprises.After addressing endogeneity and conducting robustness tests,the above conclusion still holds true.Further research has found that high market profit margins can enhance the promotion effect of industrial robot applications on the investment of enterprises in basic scientific research.Mechanism analysis found that the application of industrial robots can promote investment in basic scientific research in enterprises through two channels:firstly,the technology driven mechanism based on process technology progress,manifested as the application of industrial robots can drive product upgrades and enhance technological transformation capabilities of enterprises,thereby improving the level of investment in basic scientific research in enterprises;Secondly,based on the market driven mechanism of industrial production mode transformation,the application of industrial robots can enhance market competition among enterprises,thereby forcing them to increase their investment in basic scientific research.Heterogeneity analysis reveals that regional differences in the level of new product business have a heterogeneous impact on the promotion of basic scientific research in industrial robot applications.This is manifested in the fact that in areas with high levels of new product business,business operators have a stronger awareness of the digital upgrading of industrial robots and are more willing to timely eliminate outdated industrial robots and their components,and replace them with more intelligent industrial robots,thereby improving the intelligence level of industrial robots in the region.This helps to enhance the marginal promotion effect of industrial robots on the basic research investment of enterprises in the new product industry,that is,to improve the driving efficiency of basic research per unit of industrial robots in the new product industry;On the contrary,in regions where the level of new product business is low and the level of mature product business is high,the degree and willingness of manufacturing enterprises to apply industrial robots are relatively weak,which leads to the inability of industrial robots to effectively drive enterprises to increase investment in basic scientific research.This study helps to deepen the understanding of the inherent logical relationship between basic research and intelligent production,providing theoretical basis for relevant government departments to scientifically formulate basic research support policies,thereby promoting manufacturing enterprises to deepen the application of industrial robots and thereby enhance the level of basic research resource investment in enterprises,and promoting leading manufacturing enterprises to play a role in key core technology innovation and major breakthroughs in original technology.
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