SPATIAL TRANSITION OF INNOVATION FOCUSED ON RAILWAY STATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF PATENT APPLICATIONS IN JAPAN FROM 1980 TO 2019

Takahiro Hara*, Tetsuharu Oba, Junichi Susaki, Yoshie Ishii

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between railway systems and innovation by analyzing Japanese patent data from 1980 to 2019. It explores the impact of proximity to railway stations on innovation generation. As for methods, a microscopic approach from a station-central perspective is taken in addition to a macroscopic approach from a nationwide perspective under the hypothesis that a distance from the nearest station is related to patent application status. Results show that innovation is higher in grids near metropolitan stations and other stations. The frequency of grids with patent applications increases initially and then decreases beyond 300-700 m from conventional stations, consistent across categories. Innovation surged near stations from 1980 to 2000, decreased from 2000 to 2010 particularly in metropolises, and saw some rise around newly opened high-speed rail (HSR) lines. This highlights the ongoing influence of railway proximity on innovation, especially HSR's potential impact in other areas.

Keywords: Innovation, Railway station, Spatial transition, Patent application, Local Moran’s I

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