关键词: 校友关系网络, 知识可达性, 创新产出, 知识转移

Abstract: How does the alumni network impact the innovation output of Scientists and Engineers? The existing literature rarely discusses the social network of this important group. We conducted research on scientists and engineers and used a new matching dataset from the Harvard Patent Inventor Database and professional networking sites’ online resumes for empirical analysis. Studies have shown that the knowledge accessibility of scientists and engineers in the alumni network is conducive to improving their innovation output. Based on the motivation-capability framework, further research shows that this effect is more obvious for ones who graduated from prestigious universities, but will gradually weaken as ones’ career extends. Mechanism test finds that scientists and engineers are more likely to cite patents from alumni than non-alumni. This research enriches the research on individual innovation by informal networks. At the same time, this study also provides a feasible way for future research on the use of resume data to explore the impact of alumni factors.

Key words: Alumni Network, Knowledge Accessibility, Innovation Output, Knowledge Transfer