Research on the Impact of Digitalization and Intelligentization on Regional Innovation Capability Based on Provincial QCA Configuration Analysis

Abstract

Against the backdrop of digitalization and intelligentization, the linkage between regional innovation capabilities and economic development has grown closer and more complex. An in-depth exploration of the multi-dimensional influencing factors of regional innovation capabilities is a prerequisite for accurately grasping the intrinsic link between regional innovation and economic development. However, existing studies are mostly confined to single-dimensional explanatory variables and lack analysis of multi-factor synergistic mechanisms. Using cross-sectional data from 31 Chinese provinces and municipalities in 2023, this study applies the fsQCA method to construct a digital-intelligent factor system with seven core variables and identifies the formation paths of high-level regional innovation capabilities. The study confirms two findings: (1) No single antecedent condition is necessary for fostering high-level regional innovation capabilities. (2) Four typical paths for these capabilities are identified, including the infrastructure-deficient path, the high-level development path, the infrastructure-digital industrialization path, and the digital industrialization-industrial digitalization linkage path, and these conclusions remain robust after robustness tests. This study transcends the traditional single-factor analytical framework and uncovers the dynamic combinatorial logic of digital-intelligent factors through the lens of configurational theory. It provides decision-making implications for "province-specific" regional innovation policies and guidance on resource allocation for enterprises.