Collaborative Innovation Mechanism of Industry–University–Research–Education: A Game-Theoretic Policy Analysis from the Perspective of Industrial Research Institute Participation

Abstract

Industrial research institutes serve as vital intermediaries connecting enterprises and universities in the process of collaborative innovation, yet their quantitative influence within the industry–university–research–education (IURE) system remains underexplored. This study develops a tripartite evolutionary game model to analyze the strategic interactions among industrial research institutes, enterprises, and universities, using MATLAB simulations to capture their dynamic evolution. The findings indicate that a higher level of participation by industrial research institutes significantly enhances cooperative stability and promotes positive behavioral convergence among the three actors. Furthermore, variations in participation intensity generate differentiated impacts on enterprise initiative and university engagement. These results provide theoretical guidance for optimizing collaboration mechanisms and offer policy insights for strengthening the governance efficiency of the IURE innovation ecosystem in China.