How does digital technology facilitate the green innovation of enterprises? Evidence from China

Abstract

Employing annual reports (2007–2019) of Chinese A-share listed firms, we develop a firm-level digital technology application index using text analysis to investigate the impact of digital technology on an enterprise’s green innovation. The results indicate that, first, the application of digital technology significantly increases the level of green innovation of enterprises and will continue to have a positive impact over the next three years. Second, we demonstrate three mechanisms by which digital technology influences green innovation: namely, alleviating financial constraints, empowering the upgrading of human capital structure, and promoting R&D (research and development) cooperation. Third, we find that enterprises can only promote green innovation by integrating digital technology into their production, operation, and management processes. Furthermore, the positive impact of digital technology on green innovation was predominantly observed in businesses located in regions with a high level of environmental protection awareness and with limited environmental governance capacity.