The roles of high-tech companies in collaborative emergency response networks

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to high-tech companies in emergency response, yet our understanding of the specific roles of these companies in response networks remains limited. This article addresses this gap by analysing seven sub-networks within China’s collaborative emergency response system during COVID-19. The network analysis reveals that high-tech companies are crucial in early warning, logistics and information dissemination, supporting emergency management infrastructure. They supplement government efforts by addressing healthcare and logistical needs and complement them by enhancing monitoring and communication strategies. Our findings suggest an intriguing governance pattern that systematically integrates corporate capacities into crisis preparedness and response.