국내기사
과학기술혁신 기반 지방소멸 위기 대응의 결정 요인 : 강원특별자치도 실증분석을 중심으로 = Determinants of science and technology innovation–based responses to shrinking society risks : evidence from Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
This study analyzes the impact of science and technology innovation capacity on the risk of regional extinction using 198 observations from 18 municipalities in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province between 2013 and 2023. To address the limitations of previous research, which relied heavily on demographic indicators and failed to capture regional functional change and innovation capacity, this study incorporates comprehensive innovation variables, including R&D personnel, R&D budget, industry–academia–research collaboration, academic papers, patents, and technology commercialization. Control variables include employment rate, youth ratio, aging rate, fiscal self-reliance, and GRDP per capita. Results from sequential OLS models show that all innovation factors exert significant positive effects on the Regional Extinction Index, indicating lower extinction risk, with R&D personnel and technology commercialization demonstrating the strongest influence. These findings suggest that knowledge accumulation and the industrial application of technology strengthen regional economic and demographic foundations, thereby reducing the risk of regional extinction. The study reframes regional extinction as a structural issue rooted in innovation capacity and expands academic and policy discussions by positioning science and technology innovation as a central determinant of regional sustainability.