Five　China＇s　interprovincial　patent　trade　networks　over　the　period　2012-2016　are　established　on　the　basis　of　patent　transfer　information　collection,　transfer　entity　identification,　and　regional　mapping.　Based　on　the　analysis　of　patent　trade　trends　and　the　characteristics　of　the　network　structure,　endogenous　structural　effects　and　exogenous　factors　affecting　the　evolution　of　the　trade　networks　are　proposed,　and　exponential　random　graph　models　(ERGMs)　constructed　to　select　the　most　parsimonious　model.　Based　on　the　variables　in　the　most　parsimonious　model,　temporal　ERGM　is　used　to　determine　the　factors　of　trade　networks　evolution　among　provinces.　The　results　provide　six　key　factors　affecting　network　evolution　over　the　period　2012-2016,　i.e.,　reciprocity,　eastern　output　effect,　intensity　of　technological　R&D,　proximity　to　economic　center,　and　technology　openness.　Moreover,　analysis　reveals　that　the　concentration　of　technology　in　provinces　is　the　key　factor　inhibiting　evolution,　while　differences　among　provinces　on　economic　levels,　technology　trade　experience,　the　technology　receiving　of　western　provinces,　and　the　geographical　proximity　of　provinces　exhibit　a　weak　effect　on　the　evolution　process.　Finally,　suggestions　to　promote　interprovincial　patent　trade　are　proposed.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.