Manufacturing intelligentization and technological innovation: Perspectives on intra-industry impacts and inter-industry technology spillovers

This study empirically analyzes the impacts of manufacturing intelligentization on technological innovation using panel data from 29 manufacturing industries in China for the period 2012–2019. The research findings indicate that manufacturing intelligentization has significantly positive impacts on intra-industry technological innovation. Moreover, technological innovation exhibits path dependence, in which prior innovation accumulation is advantageous for current technological innovation. Furthermore, the spatial Durbin model indicates that intelligentization has both horizontal and vertical technology spillover effects on technological innovation. Specifically, the intelligentization of horizontal- and forward-linked industries has positive impacts on technological innovation in the focal industry. Additionally, technological innovation exhibits significant spatiotemporal dependence, as manifested by the negative spillover effects of prior technological achievements in other industries on current technological innovation in the focal industry.