Abstract:     Studying the patterns of cross-regional flows of technology services is highly significant for understanding the interactive characteristics at the regional level within the market integration process from a process-oriented perspective. This research focused on the patent agency service industry across 31 provincial-level regions  in China from 2002 to 2021. Utilizing the social network analysis, the study constructed an interprovincial flow network of patent agency services and examined its evolutionary features. Additionally, the QAP method was employed to explore the driving factors behind these flows. The aim is to unveil the "black box" of the flow of scientific and technological services among regions. The study identified the following four key characteristics in the interprovincial flows of technology service elements: (1) continuous growth in network size, density, and average degree, and the market integration generally shows a sustained advancing trend; (2) network structural shift from pyramid to olive shape, indicating that market integration has heterogeneous features; (3) technological complementarity and institutional isomorphism consistently drive the cross-regional flow of technology services, with market integration exhibiting a dual-driven effect; and (4) diminishing influence of economic, industrial, and geographical proximity on mobility over time, suggesting that market integration goes through a phase of initial differentiation followed by integration. The findings of this study will offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to advance the construction of a unified market and for technology service institutions seeking to integrate into regional industrial networks.

Key words:  market integration, technology service, social network analysis, QAP