Correlation between Urban Commercial Nodes and the Development of Sci-Tech Enterprises in Hangzhou West High-Tech Corridor, China

Abstract

Single-function industrial parks are transforming into innovation districts which combine innovation elements with urban elements. As one of the urban elements, the urban commercial nodes (UCNs) have exhibited a co-evolution phenomenon with sci-tech enterprises (STEs) in innovation districts. However, the urban planning practice of many innovation districts still falls behind in converting industrial land to commercial land use after construction, and the problem of mismatching commercial resources with consumer demand persists. This study aimed to explore how to rationalize the planning of UCNs to make them better fulfill the mission of serving economic growth by analyzing the correlation between UCNs and the development of STEs. The Hangzhou West High-Tech Corridor was adopted as a typical research sample which represents the latest development trend occurring in China’s most innovative districts and leads China in the coordinated development of sci-tech industries and urban life. Using point-of-interest data, Internet assessment data, and corporate business information data, a spatial correlation test and partial least squares regression analysis were performed. The results show that there was a significant spatial correlation between UCNs and STEs. The scale of UCNs had a significant positive correlation with the degree of agglomeration, development scale, and comprehensive development level of the STEs. The catering; hotel; and culture, sports, and entertainment industries correlated the most with STE development. The commercial complex was one of the physical forms that were conducive to the development of surrounding STEs. This study provides references for rational planning of UCNs and STE clusters, and for optimizing the allocation of commercial resources and physical commercial forms in the urban planning process of innovation districts.