Assessing the efficiency of the technological innovation ecosystem in China

Technological innovation has emerged as a vital strategic resource in recent years in the context of global economic and technological competition. This study combines the concepts of ecosystem theory and evolutionary economics to model the functioning of three types of innovation ecosystems: independent, competitive, and cooperative. It then adopts an innovation systems approach to assess the efficiency of technological innovation in China from 2011 to 2021 by using the network DEA-based model. The results show that the overall average efficiency experienced a slight but noticeable increasing trajectory, particularly in Beijing, Heilongjiang, and Shaanxi, where the increases were particularly considerable. Regions exhibit greater technical innovation efficiency while operating inside independent innovation ecosystems, followed by cooperative innovation ecosystems, and the lowest efficiency is observed in competitive innovation ecosystems. From 2011 to 2021, the average efficiency of commercializing R&D in the 30 provinces of China varied between 0.68 and 0.81. The average efficiency of resource backflow had a W-shaped trend. Beijing was consistently efficient in resource backflow throughout the study period according to the DEA. On the contrary, the efficiency of resource backflow in Liaoning, Chongqing, and Xinjiang was relatively low. This study highlights the need for improved resource allocation to enhance innovation efficiency, providing valuable insights for policymakers in optimizing regional strategies and resource management.