Digital innovation ecosystems and regional green technological innovation : Evidence from China's panel-QCA analysis

Digital innovation ecosystems (DIEs) are increasingly recognized as critical to regional green technological innovation (GTI), supporting ecological protection and sustainable development. This study uses panel qualitative comparative analysis (Panel-QCA) on data from 31 Chinese provinces (2013-2022) to explore how DIEs affect GTI through configurational effects and dynamic pathways. Results suggest two primary pathways to a high-level GTI: "Comprehensive Synergy among Innovation Actors" and "Collaborative Drive within Innovation Environments." The analysis shows that limited innovation in higher education institutions hampers high-level GTI, with external factors occasionally disrupting configurational stability. Theoretically, this study integrates the DIEs and dynamic QCA frameworks to clarify complex multi-factor interactions. Practically, it offers policy insights for boosting DIE-driven GTI across varied regional contexts.