Relying on resource dependence theory (RDT), this study investigates the antecedents of inter-organisational R&D cooperation formation in the context of Chinese manufacturing firms over the period of 2012–2017. We found that environmental dynamism promotes R&D cooperation formation; firm size, structural holes, and regional market intermediary weaken the positive effect of environmental dynamism on R&D cooperation formation. The findings provide a more fine-grained understanding of antecedents of R&D cooperation formation. The practical implications and future research are also emphasised.

This study uses evolutionary game theory to define the dynamic game relationship between construction employers’ intention to provide trainings and workers’ willingness to attend. Most construction workers live in rural areas, and their skillset is minimal. Therefore, improving their training is critical. The government plays a crucial role in workers’ attendance of vocational skills trainings (i.e. pre- and on-the-job trainings), which provide them theoretical, operative skills, and safety knowledge. The results show that employers do not offer such trainings in the absence of government participation, making such participation indispensable. In the case of government participation, however, employers will do so provided they can benefit from these trainings. Reduced training costs, intensified rewards and punishment incentives by the government for employers, and increased marginal productivity of construction workers motivate construction employers to provide trainings, while reduced opportunity costs and increased wages drive construction workers towards attending them.