Mathematical Problems in Engineering
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 3401387, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3401387

Research Article

Relational Research between China’s Marine S&T and Economy Based on RPGRA Model

Kedong Yin, Suyuan Li, and Xuemei Li

School of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

Received 28 February 2016; Accepted 26 June 2016

Academic Editor: Peide Liu

Copyright © 2016 Kedong Yin et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

To make up the defect of the existing model, an improved grey relational model based on radian perspective (RPGRA) is put forward. According to the similarity of the relative change trend of time series translating traditional grey relational degree into radian algorithm within different piecewise functions, it greatly improves the accuracy and validity of the research results by making full use of the poor information in time series. Meanwhile, the properties of the RPGRA were discussed. The relationship between China’s marine S&T and marine economy is researched using the new model, so the validity and creditability of RPGRA are illustrated. The empirical results show that marine scientific and technological research projects, marine scientific and technological patents granted, and research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions have greater relationship with GOP, which indicates that they have more impact on China’s marine economy.

1. Introduction

Introduction of Grey Relational Degree. Grey system theory (GST) [1], as well as fuzzy set theory [2] and rough set theory [3], is one of the most widely used theories to research on uncertain problems. These theories are developing rapidly in recent years. Take fuzzy set theory as an example; many scholars contributed to its development [4–9]. Compared with fuzzy set theory and rough set theory, GST has more advantages in “small sample and poor information” fields, and it can make more contribution to semi-complex uncertainty problems.

Grey relational analysis (GRA) is part of grey system theory, which is suitable for solving problems with complicated interrelationships between multiple factors and variables. This method has been widely used to solve the uncertainty problems under the discrete data and incomplete information. GRA is proposed to measure the degree of correlation between sequences by calculating their similarity or proximity. It is also the basis of grey system analysis, modeling, prediction, and decision-making. Recently, grey relational theory tends to be mature and it has emerged as an effective model to measure the correlation degree. After GRA was first put forward by Deng, more and more research on the GRA and its applications has been performed. There are some traditional correlation degrees such as the original Deng correlation degree [10], the absolute correlation degree [11], the relative correlation degree, and the comprehensive correlation degree [12]. At the same time, various improvements in correlation degree and its extension are cropping up, such as T’s correlation degree [13], slope correlation [14], B’s correlation degree [15], C’s correlation degree [16], the general correlation degree, and many other new correlation degree models [17–22].

Recently, grey relational degree model is applied to more and wider fields such as three-dimensional space and panel data model, and it is also greatly improved. For example, a multidimensional correlation degree which extended grey absolute correlation degree based on matrix is proposed [23], an enhanced grey clustering analysis method based on accumulation sequences using grey relational analysis (AGRA) is put forward [24], and a three-dimensional grey interval relational degree model based on time, index, and scheme is established [25]. And grey relational analysis is combined with the Dumpster-Shafer theory of evidence [26]. At the same time, many scholars have improved GRA model from different perspectives. Seyed Hamid used the analytic network process (ANP) to deal with the interdependencies among the criteria and modified the traditional grey relational analysis (GRA) to better address the uncertainties inherent in supplier selection decisions [27]. Wu et al. introduced the fractional order grey relational degree to analyze the relationship between sci-tech input and the economic growth of China. They defined fractional order grey relational analysis (FGRA) based on a fractional order difference operator and discussed the effect of different orders on grey relational analysis [28]. Wu et al. proposed a grey relational analysis model of scientific research ability on music based on AHP. It selected out dominant indicators and recessive indicators to evaluate software features and hardware features [28]. Guo et al. developed a new method, based on the traditional GRA method, to overcome its limitation. In this sense, they used a different distance between two intuitionistic fuzzy numbers [29]. Li et al. proposed a new GCRA model and put forward grey accumulation generation relational analysis model based on grey exponential law (AGRA) for nonequidistance unequal-length (NDUL) sequences as research is required on nonequidistance unequal-length sequences [30–32]. Li et al. proposed an effectiveness evaluation method which is based on the combination of the improved grey relational degree and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), aiming at the shortcoming that the calculation of the grey relational coefficient is influenced by the number of schemes and distinguishing coefficients, which causes inconsistency of the evaluation results in the traditional grey relational degree [33]. Huang et al. proposed the methodology of improved GRA to solve the problems that existed in model validation based on current GRA methods in view of the similarity and nearness between the simulations and flight-test time series (time-varying data) and it is proved that the improved model satisfies the four grey relational axioms [34]. And there are other modified GRA models and their applications [35–40].

In conclusion, many scholars have made contribution to the development of grey relational degree and these lectures deepen the improvement of GRA and GST; at the same time they also promote the research on uncertain problems. However, these GRA models are mostly based on the definition of distance, slope, and area. They do not break away from the limitations and research it from another perspective, which may cause disadvantages to research on some complex problems.

Introduction of China’s Marine S&T and Economy. Marine economy refers to the development, utilization, and protection of the marine industry activities. It is an essential national development strategy to promote marine economy and build China into a maritime power. In recent years, China’s marine economy has been developing rapidly. As marine development report of China (2015) says, gross ocean product (GOP) in 2015 is 6467 billion yuan, which has an increase of 7% over the previous year, accounting for 9.6% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Marine science and technology included marine science and marine technology. Marine science is a science that studies various natural phenomena and processes in the sea and their changing regularity, including physical oceanography, biological oceanography, marine geology, and marine chemistry. Marine technology refers to the accumulated experience, skills, and equipment used in the marine development activities, including marine engineering technology, marine biotechnology, seabed mineral resources exploration technology, water resources development by technology, marine environment protection technology, marine observation technology, marine forecast prediction technology, and ocean information technology. It can be said that marine science and technology are the integration of traditional and modern high-tech in the marine field.

With the development of science and technology, marine science and technology play a more and more important role in marine economy. Many scholars have made research on the intrinsic relevance and interaction, and they have confirmed that marine science and technology play an important role in promoting the development of marine economy. Qiao and Zhu used the C-D production function development model, carried out empirical study on coastal area panel data of years 2000–2008, and finally concluded the following: the government input to ocean science and technology has the remarkable positive effect on marine economic growth [41]. Dai et al. used Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to measure the total factor productivity (TFP) index of marine S&T, and Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and Spatial Panel Econometric Models were applied to identify the temporal and spatial distribution pattern and influencing factors from 2006 to 2011 [42]. Zhai and Business used marine economy double logarithmic production function model for China’s coastal marine economy with panel data; econometric analysis showed that the elasticity of marine capital, marine science and technology, and marine labor is positive [43]. Zhang et al. designed coupling parameter with coupled degree and coupled coordination degree to build the model of marine industrial aggregation and marine science and technology talents aggregation and put forward some measures of the collaborative development of two systems based on their current collaborative development situation [44]. Liu et al. calculated the marine science and technology transfer rate of our country in the period 2000–2012 based on the different scopes of the connotations and explored the appropriate method to calculate the marine science and technology transfer rate which is suitable for the current development situation in the oceanic field in China [45].

Research Motivation. Quantitative analysis of the relationship between marine S&T and economy has great strategic significance to promote marine economy. General quantitative analysis methods need adequate data, but, due to the lag of marine economy research in China, relative data cannot meet the requirements. Fortunately, grey relational analysis is effectively used in this field because it is applicable whether the samples are enough or regular. However, on the other hand, GRA is not perfect and there is space for further development. For example, some models do not have the properties of parallelism, isotonicity, uniqueness, and symmetry. Even though some improvements have already been done by scholars, real innovation is hard to see because they are still based on the definition of distance, slope, and area. Under these backgrounds, a new model called grey relational analysis based on radian perspective (RPGRA) is proposed in this paper. This new model can effectively use the poor information in time series and can improve the accuracy and validity of the research results. RPGRA uses piecewise linear representation (PLR) to translate traditional grey relational degree into radian algorithm within different piecewise functions. What is more, RPGRA has the properties of normativity, uniqueness, and parallelism and can expand some existing models.

RPGRA translates traditional grey relational degree into radian algorithm by using PLR, a method to analyze the nonlinear system by analyzing the nonlinear characteristics as a piecewise linear approximation. The nonlinear curve is replaced by a straight line segment according to the different section. Zhang et al. proposed a measurement that the time series are represented approximately with a sequence of the included angles between a pair of neighboring line segments [46]. Ding et al. proposed a radian-distance which can reserve segment trend information when compared with the angle-distance [47]. In a word, RPGRA is put forward on the base of the algorithm of radian-distance and traditional grey relational degree, and it is applied to analyze the relationship between China’s marine S&T and economy.

2. Establishment and Properties of the RPGRA Model

2.1. Establishment of the RPGRA Model

The basic idea of the RPGRA model is to calculate the grey relational degree according to the relative change trend of time series. Use PLR to translate traditional grey relational degree into radian algorithm within different piecewise functions. Then apply radian-distance algorithm into grey relational analysis to establish RPGRA model to calculate the grey relational degree.

Step 1 (transforming the original time series). Time series is one kind of typical discrete sequences, and it can be expressed in many ways using some methods. In this paper, time series will be expressed as the form of piecewise function based on the thought of PLR.
Therefore, the time series can usually be expressed as the following formula:

where denotes the observation time points; denotes the number of time series; denotes the number of observing time points in one series; denotes the observation value of the th time series at ; and denotes the line segment with the starting value and the final value (Figure 1).

Figure 1: PLR of time series.

Definition 1. Segmented radian (rad) is the radian of the angle (acute angle) between the straight line formed by two adjacent points in time series and timeline. Set rad is positive if the angle is in the first quadrant and it is negative if the angle is in the fourth quadrant.

Definition 2. Before setting the radian time series, one should set angle series. Set the time series that can be expressed as , and one defines it as the corresponding angle series of the time series, where denotes the number of observing time points in one series and denotes the counterclockwise angle between the line segments and of the th time series.
Set

And it is the radian time series.

Step 2 (calculating the radian variation). Assume the interval is , and then set the following formula as the variation function of the corresponding radian series from to :

Step 3. It is calculating the grey relational coefficient.

Definition 3. Assume that and are sequences in , respectively; the following formula will be defined to calculate the relational coefficient between these two time series:

In order to effectively distinguish the grey relational coefficient generated by two different time series, a comparative variable is introduced into formula (4), which is the subtraction variable . When the variation function of two time series in each is similar, the comparative variable will tend to be 0, and then will tend to be 1 and vice versa.

Definition 4. Assuming that and are nonnegative sequences in , then

is named the grey relational degree of the RPGRA of and . The greater is, the stronger the correlation between and is.

2.2. Property of RPGRA

Theorem 5. The properties of the model of RPGRA are as follows:

(1).(2)Symmetry, .(3)Uniqueness and independence, being unique for two fixed sequences and not influenced by other sequences.(4)Comparability.

Proof. (1) We can obtain from Definition 1, so , , , and .
(2) According to the definitions of the grey relational coefficient and the grey relational degree of the RPGRA, property (2) is obvious.
(3) The grey relational coefficient and the grey relational degree of the RPGRA are only connected with the two sequences involved. Once the sequences are determined, the radians are determined. Therefore, of certain sequences are confirmed and are not affected by other sequences in the system.
(4) This property is also correct due to property (3).

Theorem 6. Assume that there are two time series, and , and their grey relational degree is , which satisfies and , if and only if   , is a constant; then and are parallel; that is, the RPGRA model satisfies the normativity of GST.

Proof. As and − = , are parallel. And .
That is, the model of RPGRA satisfies the characteristic of GRA’s normativity. So this property was proved.

3. Application of the RPGRA Model for Relationship between China’s S&T and Economy

In recent years, China’s marine economy has been developing rapidly, and marine science and technology have attracted high attention from concerned governmental departments. According to the China Marine Statistical Yearbook, the investment of marine science and technology has been increasing with the years. In 2013, the research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions are 265563 million yuan, increasing 200% from 2008. The research of China’s S&T is still in the initial stage. There are few data and they are mainly from China Marine Statistical Yearbook. Taking the choice of variables by scholars in Introduction and the availability of data into comprehensive consideration, five variables are selected to represent China’s S&T to research their correlation with marine economy. They are the number of marine scientific research institutions, research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions, the number of marine scientific and technological research projects, the number of marine scientific theses published, and the number of marine scientific and technological patents granted.

3.1. Empirical Analysis on Correlation between China’s Marine S&T and Economy

The original data of China’s marine science and technology and gross ocean product (GOP) are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Original data: added value of strategic marine emerging industries. Unit: 100 million yuan/item.

Year
Gross ocean product
Marine scientific research institutions
Research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions
Marine scientific and technological research projects
Marine scientific theses published
Marine scientific and technological patents granted

2006
21592.4
136
528.93
6593
8492
379

2007
25618.7
136
773.94
7617
9104
398

2008
29718
135
876.97
8327
9485
441

2009
32277.6
186
160.16
12600
14451
1250

2010
39572.7
181
1955.08
13466
14296
1482

2011
45496
179
2322.19
14253
15547
2034

2012
50045.2
177
2577.23
15403
16713
2746

2013
54313
175
2655.64
16331
16284
3430

Source from 2006~2014 China Marine Statistical Yearbook.

Use formula (2) to get the radian time series as Table 2.

Table 2: The corresponding radian series of the original time series.

Items

Gross ocean product
1.5705
1.5706
1.5704
1.5707
1.5706
1.5706
1.5706

Research institutions
0.0000

Research funds receipts
1.5708

Research projects
1.5698

Theses published
1.5692

Patents granted
1.5182

Use formulas (3) and (4) to calculate as Table 3. Use GOP as a basic sequence to calculate the correlation coefficient of the five variables for China’s marine science and technology.

Table 3: Correlation coefficient of China’s marine science and technology.

Items

Research institutions
0.5601
0.2997
0.2548
0.7897
0.9999
1.0000

Research funds receipts
1.0000
0.2415
0.2415
1.0000
0.9999
1.0000

Research projects
0.9996
0.9987
0.9988
0.9999
0.9995
0.9998

Theses published
0.9990
0.9974
0.2418
0.2419
1.0000
0.2416

Patents granted
0.9715
0.9783
0.9967
0.9975
0.9995
1.0000

According to formula (5), is calculated as follows:

The RPGRA degree between GOP and marine scientific and technological research projects is 0.9994, ranked first; the degree of marine scientific and technological patents granted is 0.9906, ranked second; the degree of research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions is 0.7471, ranked third; the degree of marine scientific research institutions is 0.6507, ranked fourth; and the degree of marine scientific theses published is 0.6203, ranked the last. The value of grey relational degree does not have practical significance, so the results of empirical analysis are only concerned with the ranking and do not rigidly adhere to the value.

3.2. Conclusion of Empirical Analysis

According to the empirical results, GOP and marine scientific and technological research projects have a greater correlation degree, marine scientific and technological patents granted take the second place, followed by research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions, and the degree of marine scientific theses published is the last one. The geometric figure of four variables and GOP is shown in Figure 2. From the trend we can see that GOP and research funds receipts, patents granted, and research projects have the most similar trend and have the least similarity with research institutions, which conform to the results of the empirical analysis and illustrate the effectiveness of RPGRA model.

Figure 2: Diagrams of China’s marine science and technology. Source from 2006~2014 China Marine Statistical Yearbook. Note. Only the gross ocean product uses the secondary coordinate.

3.3. Comparative Analysis with Traditional Grey Relational Methods

In this part, some traditional GRA models are also used to make comparative analysis. We use RPGRA degree, Deng’s correlation degree, absolute correlation degree, relative correlation degree, and comprehensive correlation degree. The calculation result and ranking result are shown as Tables 4 and 5.

Table 4: Grey relational degrees of different methods.

Degree
Methods

RPGRA degree
Deng’s correlation degree
Absolute correlation degree
Relative correlation degree
Comprehensive correlation degree

Items

    Research institutions
0.6507
0.8706
0.5009
0.6752
0.5880

    Research funds receipts
0.7471
0.7410
0.5299
0.7161
0.6230

    Research projects
0.9994
0.9687
0.6688
0.9562
0.8125

    Theses published
0.6203
0.9325
0.6485
0.8887
0.7686

    Patents granted
0.9906
0.6734
0.5347
0.6355
0.5851

Table 5: Ranking results of the grey relational degree of different methods.

Ranking results
Methods

RPGRA degree
Deng’s correlation degree
Absolute correlation degree
Relative correlation degree
Comprehensive correlation degree

Items

    Research institutions
4
3
5
4
4

    Research funds receipts
3
4
4
3
3

    Research projects
1
1
1
1
1

    Theses published
5
2
2
2
2

    Patents granted
2
5
3
5
5

By analysis and calculation, the ranking results are variant in different methods. But, in general, the top one of the rankings is research funds receipts, and the number of research institutions ranks in the last two, which indicates RPGRA model’s validity and creditability. The empirical results show that marine scientific and technological research projects, marine scientific and technological patents granted, and research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions have a greater correlation with GOP, which indicates that they have more impact on China’s marine economy.

Marine scientific and technological research projects include five parts: basic research, applied research, experimental development, result application, and scientific and technological service. The number of marine research projects has increased 96% from 2008 and its development situation is shown as Table 6. Research projects can promote the investigation of marine research and resources, the construction of marine ecological civilization, and maintenance of maritime rights and interests. And they can also enhance the national marine awareness, improve the capacity of marine infrastructure and equipment, and then serve and promote the development of marine economy. In the next phase of the work, State Oceanic Administration will accelerate the research projects about construction of marine power, marine integrated management, maintenance of the marine rights and interests, and marine legislation.

Table 6: Development situation of marine scientific and technological research projects. Unit: item.

Year
Number of research projects
Basic research
Applied research
Experimental development
Result application
Scientific and technological service

2008
8327
2087
2623
1420
691
1506

2009
12600
2753
3338
2550
1074
2885

2010
13466
3104
3497
2838
1359
2668

2011
14253
3476
3696
2855
1453
2773

2012
15403
3756
3854
3569
1515
2709

2013
16331
4276
3735
3997
1516
2807

Marine scientific and technological patents of the research include the number of patent applications accepted and the number of patents granted, and in this paper we use the number of patents granted because only it can reflect the patent of marine science and technology in our country accurately and objectively. Intellectual property is the product of the commodity economy and the development of science and technology. As one of the forms of intellectual property protection, patent plays an important role in the development of science and technology. The number of marine scientific and technological patents has increased 30% compared with last year, and the number is still growing rapidly.

Research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions include routine fund and loans in the government investment in the capital construction scientific and technological activities. The investment scale and structure of scientific research funds are shown as Figure 3. We can see that routine fund accounts for the largest proportion, while loans and government investment occupy little floor. Therefore, the investment scale and structure are not reasonable and they are an important factor affecting the conversion of science and technology achievements. Furthermore, due to its high correlation with marine economy, it may affect the further development of marine economy.

Figure 3: Diagrams of investment scale and structure of scientific research funds.

4. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

The RPGRA model was established based on the similarity of the relative change trend of time series and on a new radian perspective. Then it is applied to analysis of China’s marine S&T and marine economy. The grey relational degree between marine S&T index and economy reflects its position and function in marine economy. Index with greater correlation degree will have a greater impact on the development of the marine economy. Relevant data of marine S&T is chosen to analyze the relationship between China’s marine S&T and marine economy. The empirical results show that marine scientific and technological research projects, marine scientific and technological patents granted, and research funds receipts of the marine scientific research institutions have greater correlations with GOP, which indicates that they have more impact on China’s marine economy.

Therefore, China needs to develop marine S&T especially in research projects, patents, and research funds to promote marine economy and so as to make the economy more prosperous. We need to further refine the National Marine Economy Development Plan to realize the sustainable development of marine economy in China and build China into a maritime power.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Acknowledgments

The relevant researches done in this paper are supported by the National Social Science Fund Major Projects (14ZDB151); General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580611); Qingdao Postdoctoral Application Research Project Funding (251); and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (201613006, 201564031).

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