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Paper short abstract:

In this study, we focus on the representation of innovation in the makerspaces and incubators of China and how different stakeholders are shaping the landscape. The works reveal the tension and evolution within the variety of innovation dynamics in China.

Paper long abstract:

The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamic representation of innovation in the makerspaces / incubators of China. Due to the encouragement of the "mass-entrepreneurship and innovation policy by Chinese government, hundreds of maker spaces/ incubators were built up for supporting techno innovation and entrepreneurship in the past year. The maker spaces and incubators have become the bridgeheads to accumulate the knowledge, capitals, makers and entrepreneurs for innovation where the public and government can participate in. The role of government, scientists, or entrepreneurs in the process of innovation have been well explored in previous studies, and they were considered as major players in the system. However, few works have been done on the representation of innovation in the context of local authorities and people, who insist upon different stances and purposes on the activities, and there is still a gap to figure out how different stakeholders are shaping the innovation landscape. The study was carried on by filed survey and interviews with the members, including the managers, makers, entrepreneurs and other service providers in makerspaces/ incubators supported by the government, and the documents of the policies and public opinion on media and social network in China were also reviewed. The study will serve to reveal the tension and evolution within the variety of innovation dynamics in China.