The Impact of Digital Transformation on Green Technological Innovation of Multinational Manufacturing Enterprises

Ning Cao; BeiBei Liu; JianJun Wang

doi:10.63313/EBM.9166

Authors

Ning Cao School of Business, Shanghai Dianji University, Shanghai 201316, China Author
BeiBei Liu School of Business, Shanghai Dianji University, Shanghai 201316, China Author
JianJun Wang School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/EBM.9166

Keywords:

Digital Transformation, Green Technological Innovation, Research and Development Investment, ESG Performance, Sustainable development

Abstract

Fueled by accelerating digital advances and intensified national carbon neutrality commitments, the strategic convergence of digital transformation and environmental sustainability has become a pivotal lever for upgrading China’s manufacturing toward high-quality, resilient growth. As the cornerstone of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital technologies reconfigure innovation architectures, compress green R&D timelines, and catalyze the synthesis, dissemination, and market deployment of green knowledge. Using a comprehensive panel of A-share manufacturing listed firms from 2014 to 2024, this study constructs a holistic digitalization index across four dimensions. Employing dynamic panel models and machine learning-enhanced robustness checks, we assess digitalization’s causal effects on green innovation quantity, quality, and translational efficacy, further unpacking mechanisms, boundary conditions, and theoretical foundations for theory and policy.

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