Centrality of regions in R&D networks: A new measurement approach using the concept of bridging paths

This paper aims at introducing a novel measure of regional centrality in the context
of R&D networks. We first demonstrate some substantial problems of SNA-based
centrality measures to cope with regional R&D networks in a meaningful way. Then,
we introduce a new measurement approach of regional network centrality based on the
concept of inter-regional bridging paths (indirect connections at the regional level). We
show that the formal definition of our regional bridging centrality measure can be expressed
in terms of three simple components: the participation intensity of a region
in inter-regional R&D collaborations, the relative outward orientation in terms of all
established links and the diversification of R&D collaborations among partner regions.
We illustrate the measure and its behaviour with respect to other conventional centrality
measures by using the example of the European co-patent network at the NUTS2
level.