什么样的数字创新生态系统能提高区域创新绩效——基于NCA与QCA的研究

What Kind of Digital Innovation Ecosystem Improves Regional Innovation Performance: An Analysis Based on NCA and QCA

什么样的数字创新生态系统有助于提高区域创新绩效是亟待解决的热点问题。采用必要条件分析(NCA)和模糊集定性比较分析(fsQCA)两种方法,对我国内地31个省(区、市)进行实证分析。研究发现:(1)数字企业、政府、高校及科研机构、数字创新基础设施、数字人才和金融服务是数字创新生态系统的关键构成,但单个要素并不是提高区域创新绩效的必要条件;(2)4种数字创新生态系统要素组态有助于提高区域创新绩效,构成的数字创新生态系统分别是政府引导的智力聚集型、企业开拓的环境支撑型、主体多元的综合发展型和企业主导的资本驱动型;(3)各地应因地制宜,选择合适的数字创新生态系统,培育区域创新新动能,助推“数字中国”新发展。

It is an important path for China to enhance its digital innovation capability and participate in international competition by strengthening the construction of digital innovation ecosystem and improving regional innovation performance. However, the current theoretical research on the digital innovation ecosystem stays in the stage of framework construction, the research results are scattered and there is little research on the relationship between the element coupling of the digital innovation ecosystem and the regional innovation performance. Therefore, this paper first defines the connotation of the digital innovation ecosystem, studies the constituent elements of the system, and analyzes the relationship between each element and innovation performance. Taking 31 provinces and cities in China as the research object, this paper uses NCA method to explore if and to what extent a single element of the system is a necessary condition to improve regional innovation performance. From the perspective of configuration, this paper uses QCA method to explore the complex impact of digital innovation ecosystem on regional innovation performance, and reveals the multiple paths and mechanisms of system element coupling to improve regional innovation performance.This paper believes that the digital innovation ecosystem is a complex system of coexistence between different innovation subjects and innovation environments in a region, relying on digital technology to achieve a new combination of digital resources and non-digital resources to create new products or services, it mainly includes digital enterprises, governments, universities and scientific research institutions, etc., while the innovation environment consists of digital innovation infrastructure, digital talents and financial services. On the basis of analyzing the relationship between various elements and innovation performance, the six elements involved in the digital innovation ecosystem, namely digital enterprises, governments, universities and scientific research institutions, digital innovation infrastructure, digital talents and financial services, are regarded as the antecedent variable, regional innovation performance as the outcome variable, together with 31 provinces and cities in China as samples. Since the impact of system element input on regional innovation performance has a certain time lag effect, this paper sets the lag period to two years, selects the latest available data, that is, the antecedent variable data in 2019 and the outcome variable data in 2021, NCA necessity analysis is carried out, and fsQCA is used to conduct element configuration research.The results show that digital enterprises, governments, universities and scientific research institutions, digital innovation infrastructure, digital talents and financial services are the key elements of the digital innovation ecosystem, but a single element is not a necessary condition for improving regional innovation performance. In addition, four element configurations can improve regional innovation performance, and the digital innovation ecosystems are classified into the’government guidance, intelligence gathering’ type, the ‘enterprise development, environmental support’ type, thr ’diversified subjects, comprehensive development’ type, and ’enterprise-led, capital-driven’ type. It is suggested that each region should adapt to local conditions, select a suitable digital innovation ecosystem and cultivate new drivers of regional innovation to promote the new development of digital China.The research conclusions of this paper provide a more detailed explanation for exploring the relationship between digital innovation ecosystem and regional innovation performance. It enriches the research framework of digital innovation ecosystem, provides new ideas for follow-up research, and inspiration for management practice. First, local governments should give full play to their guiding role, strengthen the construction and optimization of the elements of the digital innovation ecosystem, improve the system’s radiation capability, and play a positive role in regional innovation performance. Second, local governments should pay attention to the combination and matching of multiple elements of the digital innovation ecosystem, and from an overall perspective, formulate targeted policies to promote the coordinated development of elements and improve regional innovation performance. Finally, local governments should choose from four systems according to their own conditions and resource endowment: ’government guidance, intelligence gathering’, ’enterprise development, environmental support’, ’diversified subjects, comprehensive development’, and ’enterprise-led, capital-driven’ system types, select a digital innovation ecosystem suitable for development, formulate relevant policies, enhance regional innovation capabilities, and accelerate the construction of an innovative country.