Network heterogeneity, scientific performance and medical innovation

Abstract

Research networks have particular social and economic resonance in the field of biomedical research. This study will investigate how biomedical research networks could better facilitate scientific and technological progress. Specifically, we focus on two aspects: the heterogeneity of institutions where network partners are embedded and the most frequent benefit that individuals obtain from their set of network contacts. Our results indicate that, while network heterogeneity is positively related to technological progress, it exerts a negative effect on scientific discoveries. Moreover, this effect appears to be contingent on the dominant benefit characterizing each network.