Qiantao Zhang is currently Assistant Professor at the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. in Economic Geography from Cardiff University. Dr. Zhang's main research interests include entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development. Prior to joining XJTLU, he worked as Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto and Research Assistant at Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Zhang's ORCID profile is available at: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4450-5775, and his Scopus ID is: 58351959900.
Qualifications
Ph.D., Cardiff University - 2016
M.M., Chinese Academy of Sciences - 2009
B.Eng., Huazhong University of Science and Technology - 2006
Experience
Assistant Professor, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University - 2019 to present
Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Toronto - 2017 to 2019
Research Assistant, Trinity College Dublin - 2014 to 2016
Research interests
Urban and regional economics
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Articles
Lin, L., Zhang, Q. and Chen, Z. (2023) 'Surviving the pandemic: COVID-19 and restaurant closures in Suzhou.' International Journal of Urban Sciences, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2023.2262419. (SSCI)
Zhang, Q., Breznitz, S,M. and Denney, S. (2023) 'Too much support? Entrepreneurial ecosystems and firm growth.' The Journal of Technology Transfer, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-023-10013-1. (SSCI; ABS3; B in ABDC)
Zhang, Q., Clayton, P.A. and Breznitz, S.M. (2022) 'The hope fulfilled? Measuring research performance of universities in the economic crisis.' International Regional Science Review, 45(6), pp. 663-691. (SSCI; B in ABDC)
Breznitz, S.M. and Zhang, Q. (2022) 'Entrepreneurship education and firm creation.' Regional Studies, 56(6), pp. 940-955. (SSCI; ABS4; A* in ABDC)
Breznitz, S.M. and Zhang, Q. (2020) 'Determinants of graduates' entrepreneurial activity.' Small Business Economics, 55(4), pp. 1039-1056. (SSCI; ABS3; A in ABDC)
Breznitz, S.M. and Zhang, Q. (2019) 'Fostering the growth of student start-ups from university accelerators: An entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective.' Industrial and Corporate Change, 28(4), pp. 855-873. (SSCI; ABS3; A in ABDC)
Zhang, Q. and Lucey, B.M. (2019) 'Globalisation, the mobility of skilled workers, and economic growth: Constructing a novel brain drain/gain index for European countries.' Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 10(4), pp. 1620-1642. (SSCI; ABS1; C in ABDC)
Zhang, Q. (2018) 'Theory, practice and policy: A longitudinal study of university knowledge exchange in the UK.' Industry and Higher Education, 32(2), pp. 80-92. (ESCI; ABS1)
Zhang, Q., Larkin, C. and Lucey, B.M. (2017) 'An empirical study of the innovative culture in Ireland's higher education institutions.' Higher Education Policy, 30(4), pp. 533-553. (SSCI; ABS2; B in ABDC)
Zhang, Q., Larkin, C. and Lucey, B.M. (2017) 'Universities, knowledge exchange, and policy: A comparative study of Ireland and the United Kingdom.' Science and Public Policy, 44(2), pp. 174-185. (SSCI; ABS2; C in ABDC)
Zhang, Q., Larkin, C. and Lucey, B.M. (2017) 'The economic impact of higher education institutions in Ireland: Evidence from disaggregated input output tables.' Studies in Higher Education, 42(9), pp. 1601-1623. (SSCI; ABS3; A in ABDC)
Zhang, Q., MacKenzie, N.G., Jones-Evans, D. and Huggins, R. (2016) 'Leveraging knowledge as a competitive asset? The intensity, performance and structure of universities' entrepreneurial knowledge exchange activities at a regional level.' Small Business Economics, 47(3), pp. 657-675. (SSCI; ABS3; A in ABDC)
Chapters, cases, readings and supplements
Breznitz, S.M., Kazerouni, S. and Zhang, Q. (2022) 'Universities' ownership of intellectual property: Focus on Canada,' in Audretsch, D.B., Lehman, E.E. and Link, A.N. (Eds.), Handbook of Technology Transfer, pp. 236-248. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Pellegrini, P., Zhang, Q., Yuan, X. and Chen, J. (2021) 'Facilitating basic elements of urban environment in future Suzhou: Perspectives from the blue-green system,' in Xu, Y. and Kim, J.S. (EDs.), Future Suzhou: Planning and Government of Suzhou from Global Perspectives, pp. 29-51. Beijing: China Construction Industry Press. [In Chinese]
Breznitz, S.M., Hills, B. and Zhang, Q. (2019) 'Measuring entrepreneurial impact through alumni impact surveys,' in Audretsch, D.B., Lehman, E.E. and Link, A.N. (Eds.), A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, pp. 30-39. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Zhang, Q., Larkin, C. and Lucey, B.M. (2017) 'The economic impact of higher education institutions,' in Cullinan, J. and Flannery, D. (Eds.), Economic Insights on Higher Education Policy in Ireland: Evidence from a Public System, pp. 199-219. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
MacKenzie, N.G. and Zhang, Q. (2014) 'A regional perspective on the entrepreneurial university: Practices and policies,' in Fayolle, A. and Redford, D.T. (Eds.), Handbook on the Entrepreneurial University, pp. 188-206. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Conference presentations
2023. 'Too much support? Entrepreneurial ecosystems and firm growth,' presented at the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference (Ljubljana, Slovenia).
2019. 'Determiants of graduates' entrepreneurial activity,' presented at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting (Washington, D.C. United States of America).
2018. 'Fostering the growth of student start-ups from university accelerators: An entrepreneurial ecosystem perspective,' presented at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting (New Orleans, United States of America).
2016. 'Universities, knowledge exchange and policy: A comparative study of Ireland and the United Kingdom,' presented at the University-Industry Interaction Conference (Amsterdam, Netherlands).
Grants
XJTLU Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, "Embedded here and now: Local networks of international staff at XJTLU," Principal Investigator, RMB5,000, 2023-2023.
XJTLU Teaching Development Fund, "A proactive learning and teaching approach to preventing student cross-language plagiarism," Co-Investigator, RMB50,000, 2023-2024.
XJTLU Research Development Fund, "Balancing economic growth and environmental improvement: Evidence from the Chinese prefectural-level cities", Principal Investigator, RMB100,000, 2023-2024.
XJTLU Teaching Development Fund, "Game design: Facilitating research-led learning and teaching through gamification," Co-Investigator, RMB50,000, 2021-2023.
Jiangsu Province Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, "Entrepreneurial ecosystems and the growth of new ventures: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta region", Principal Investigator, RMB150,000, 2020-2022.
Professional service activities
Department Year 2 Leader - 2023 to present
School Year 2 Coordinator - 2021 to present
Department Student Staff Liaison Committee Co-Chair - 2021 to present
Department Final Year Project Coordinator - 2022 to 2023
Department Alumni Officer - 2020 to 2022
Department Industry Liaison Officer - 2020 to 2022
Teaching activities
UPD105 Urban and Environmental Economics
UPD109 History and Purpose of Planning
UPD305 Final Year Project
UPD409 Dissertation
Courses taught
UPD202 Rural Planning (at XJTLU)
UPD311 Planning and Property Development (at XJTLU)
GLA2000H Innovation Policy Capstone (at University of Toronto)
GLA2014H Innovation and Economic Development (at University of Toronto)
Professional memberships
2023 Regional Studies Association
2017 American Association of Geographers
Awards and honours
2022 Outstanding Academic Staff Award for Teaching Excellence (Nominated), XJTLU
2020 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education (via XJTLU)
2014 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Irish Research Council (via Trinity College Dublin)
2010 Doctoral Scholarship, Nesta (via University of Wales)
