School of Economics and Management, Hubei University of Automotive Technology, Shiyan, Hubei, China.
PLoS One. 2024 Oct 1;19(10):e0309229. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309229. eCollection 2024.
This study introduces the concept of "energy level" into the analysis of innovation ecosystems. Drawing on the theory of "architects", we have identified the key architects of regional digital innovation ecosystems. By integrating Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), we examined the configuration effects of internal architects, external architects, and digital innovation habitats on the energy level of these ecosystems, utilizing data from 30 provinces in China as case studies. The results indicate that the contribution of a single architect to achieving a high energy level in a regional digital innovation ecosystem is limited and cannot be regarded as a necessary condition for driving a high energy level. However, core innovation actors and digital infrastructures emerge as more significant core conditions. The architects of regional digital innovation ecosystems exhibit multiple concurrent causal relationships. The configuration paths of high and non-high energy levels of ecosystems display a causally asymmetric "multiple paths to the same outcome" relationship. The three identified paths for driving high energy levels are categorized as "core actor-infrastructure"-driven paths. The findings of this paper hold substantial theoretical and practical significance for fostering the healthy development of regional digital innovation ecosystems.
本研究将“能级”概念引入创新生态系统分析中。借鉴“建筑师”理论，我们确定了区域数字创新生态系统的关键建筑师。通过整合必要条件分析（NCA）和模糊集定性比较分析（fsQCA），我们利用来自中国 30 个省份的数据，研究了内部建筑师、外部建筑师和数字创新生境对这些生态系统能级的组态效应。结果表明，单个建筑师对实现区域数字创新生态系统高能级的贡献是有限的，不能将其视为驱动高能级的必要条件。然而，核心创新主体和数字基础设施则成为更为重要的核心条件。区域数字创新生态系统的建筑师表现出多种并发的因果关系。生态系统高能级和非高能级的组态路径呈现出因果不对称的“殊途同归”关系。驱动高能级的三条路径被归类为“核心主体-基础设施”驱动路径。本文的研究结果对于促进区域数字创新生态系统的健康发展具有重要的理论和实践意义。
