How global value chain participation affects green technology innovation processes: A moderated mediation model

Global value chain (GVC) embeddedness is an irreversible development paradigm in China's manufacturing sector. However, the increasingly prominent problem of ecological deterioration has become a bottleneck restricting its further high-quality development. Green technological innovation is an effective way to realise cleaner production and an environmentally-friendly society. Most studies consider green technological innovation as a whole. The specific mechanism and path influences on GVC participation in green technological innovation require further clarification. This study subdivides green technology innovation into process innovation and product innovation, constructing an improved Utterback and Abernathy (A-U) technological innovation process model to reveal the mediation effect moderated by environmental regulation. Our innovative findings are as follows: Green process innovation completely mediates GVC participation and green product innovation nexus; and environmental regulation positively moderates green process innovation's mediating role between GVC participation and green product innovation. Cleaner production technology innovation completely mediates the relationship between GVC participation and green product innovation. Green process innovation partially mediates the relationship between GVC forward participation and green product innovation. Cleaner production technology innovation completely mediates GVC forward participation and green product innovation nexus. The research conclusions provide new theoretical evidence for improving GVC forward participation and giving full play to cleaner production process innovation to promote China's green and low-carbon transformation; we also offer some references for other developing countries and emerging economies.