Title: Spatial evolution and driving force of green technological innovation in China: the perspective of innovation ecosystem

Authors: Yuxuan Tang; Qiangming Yan; Tingting Xie; Yubin Chen

Addresses: International Development Cooperation Academy, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, 620 Gubei Rd., Changning District, Shanghai, 200336, China ' School of Economics, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China ' School of Economics, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China ' School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China

Abstract: The green innovation ecosystem is a holistic structure, generating synergistic effects of the innovation subjects and innovation milieus, which lead to a distinctive increase in green innovation outputs. However, discussions on the temporospatial characteristics of the evolution pattern and the influential factors behind spatial evolution remain rather limited. This paper analyses the spatial evolution of green technology development with a sample of green patent applications at the provincial level in China from 2009-2019. It systematises the indicators of innovation actors and external factors for green innovation output, using principle-component methods and establishing geographically weighted regression. The results show that green innovation output appears to diffuse rapidly in China. The evolution of the spatial pattern follows high value concentration diffusing to low value areas. Moran's I indicates that the spillover effect of technology demonstrates a strong spatial correlation, driving a balanced development of green technology. The external factors shaping the innovation ecosystem for green innovation mainly stem from the policy and infrastructure environment for green development, while financial resource investment in China's green innovation ecosystem is insufficient.

Keywords: green innovation output; innovation ecosystem; Moran's index; spatial evolution; technological development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2024.140254

International Journal of Technology Management, 2024 Vol.96 No.1/2/3, pp.94 - 126

Received: 30 Jun 2022
Accepted: 07 Mar 2023

Published online: 01 Aug 2024 *

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