Abstract: With the development of global emerging manufacturing network, international knowledge flow shows new characteristics, and its research focus has been shifting from bi-lateral attribute elements to network relationship elements. Therefore, from the perspective of network resource-based view, this paper proposes a conceptual model of the impacts of resource allocation networks on the international knowledge flow network, and conducts an empirical study in 3D printing industry to examine the impact mechanism and its evolution. Analysis of quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) is applied, based on multi-source heterogeneous data including patent and commercial data. The results show that the international resource allocation network, the value chain resource allocation network and the industrial institute resource allocation network have significantly positive impacts on the inter-firm knowledge flow network. Besides that, the impact effects are different according to the industry development stages. This research discovers the new laws of inter-firm knowledge flow in the ear of globalization and networks.