Multilayer innovation network resilience: A framework for digital economy vulnerability assessment

Area of Science:

• Network Science
• Digital Economy Studies
• Innovation Management

Background:

• Multilayer innovation networks are key to technological advancement but their resilience in digital economies is understudied.
• Understanding network interdependencies and vulnerabilities is critical for economic stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a framework for assessing the resilience of multilayer innovation networks.
• To analyze interdependencies and disruption scenarios within China's digital economy.
• To identify cascading vulnerability mechanisms in coupled multilayer networks.

Main Methods:

• Construction of coupled multilayer networks representing innovation systems.
• Implementation of four integrated attack strategies to simulate disruptions.
• Analysis of cascading failure propagation and network resilience patterns.

Main Results:

• Collaboration networks exhibit significant fragility to targeted attacks.
• Knowledge networks demonstrate higher resilience, particularly in mature stages.
• Disruptions in knowledge networks cause severe ecosystem-wide effects, unlike collaboration network perturbations.

Conclusions:

• Knowledge networks are the essential integrative mechanism in innovation systems.
• Protecting critical technological knowledge is more vital than maintaining collaborative arrangements for resilience.
• The study advances multilayer network theory and offers practical insights for digital economy vulnerability assessment.