Which type of innovation is more conducive to inclusive green growth: Independent innovation or imitation innovation?

Inclusive green growth has received significant attention globally since being proposed in 2012, with an emphasis on the social inclusion and green growth of the economy. In the process of growing the inclusive green economy, innovation has become the key factor in balancing the connection between economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental greenness. This study attempts to determine which innovation type—independent innovation or imitation innovation—is more beneficial to inclusive green growth and the possible regional heterogeneity by using the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) and the Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model (DSDM). We examine the hypotheses by sampling 29 provinces in China over the past 10 years and find that independent innovation has a positive effect on inclusive green growth, while imitation innovation has a negative effect. In the subregional test, independent innovation, and imitation innovation in the eastern region of China can promote inclusive green growth, whereas in the rest of the districts these are insignificant or even inhibit inclusive green growth.