Against the backdrop of a new global technological revolution, breakthroughs in key digital technologies have become the driving force for high-quality economic development. As an important component of national competitiveness, innovation capabilities in key digital fields not only concern the security and stability of the industrial chain, but also serve as a strategic foundation for China to achieve technological self-reliance, strength, and the ability to respond to intense international competition. Unlike general technological innovation, key digital technology innovation depends on the extensive use of data factors, the combined development of computing power and algorithms, and the comprehensive support of digital infrastructure. While certain areas of key digital technologies have seen breakthroughs, significant challenges remain overall. Therefore, enhancing enterprises’ innovation capabilities in key digital technologies has become a major practical issue of concern to the Chinese government.
Data factors are the core resource driving innovation in key digital technologies. The accumulation of massive data drives the continuous optimization of algorithmic models, propelling artificial intelligence technology from laboratory research to market applications. For enterprises, the ability to efficiently obtain, store, and apply data is the core prerequisite for seizing data factor opportunities and achieving breakthroughs in key digital technologies. To leverage the multiplier effect of data, the Chinese government has introduced national big data comprehensive pilot zones to guide the agglomeration of data resources within specific regions, thereby promoting the circulation and application of data factors.
Using data from Chinese listed companies between 2009 and 2022, the paper constructs an indicator for enterprise key digital technology innovation and employs a difference-in-differences (DID) model and a double machine learning (DML) approach to assess the impact of national big data comprehensive pilot zones on such innovation from the perspective of data factor agglomeration. The findings show that the pilot zones significantly enhance key digital technology innovation among enterprises within them. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the policy has a significant positive effect on non-state-owned enterprises, those in eastern regions and those in highly competitive industries. Mechanism analysis reveals that the policy primarily facilitates key digital technology innovation through fiscal and tax support, basic research, data sharing and collaboration, and innovation factor allocation.
This research provides a micro-level empirical foundation for the precise formulation of digital economy policies, offering significant insights into how data factor agglomeration can empower corporate innovation in key digital technologies. It recommends targeted policies to narrow the innovation gap between eastern and western regions, such as improving digital infrastructure in underdeveloped areas, promoting inter-regional cooperation and supporting the development of distinctive industries. To stimulate innovation across all enterprises, the study suggests providing research and development (R&D) support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), improving innovation evaluation mechanisms for state-owned enterprises and promoting data sharing among industries. Additionally, the study proposes establishing a four-dimensional collaborative mechanism integrating fiscal and tax support, basic research, data sharing and resource allocation to enhance the digital innovation ecosystem.
为验证大数据试验区政策是否通过基础研究驱动效应促进企业关键数字技术创新,本文从以下两个方面进行检验。首先,借鉴刁海璨[12]的做法,以企业与高校或科研院所合作发表的科学论文数量衡量校企联合基础研究水平。根据国家统计局定义,基础研究指不以特定应用为目的的理论性或实验性工作,旨在探索基本原理与新知识,成果多以论文、著作等形式呈现。本文以上市公司名称为作者单位,在中国知网和Web of Science中检索其与高校或科研机构合作发表的论文,构建校企合作研究指标(pap1)。表7第(1)列结果表明,试验区建设发挥了重要桥梁纽带作用,有助于校企合作研究。其次,为捕捉校企合作的持续性,本文采用样本期内企业累计合作发表的科学论文数量构建持续合作指标(pap2)。第(3)列结果显示,大数据试验区推动了校企长期合作研究。综上,试验区建设通过激发并维系校企基础研究合作,强化了基础研究驱动效应,进而促进了企业关键数字技术创新,验证了研究假设H3。
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