Research on the Influence of The Identification of "Green Factory" on Enterprise Intelligent Manufacturing

This study investigates whether voluntary environmental regulation, exemplified by China’s Green Factory Certification (GFC), can stimulate the development of intelligent manufacturing. Leveraging a panel dataset of A-share listed firms from 2007 to 2020 and employing a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) framework, we identify the causal effect of GFC certification on smart manufacturing capabilities. Results reveal a significant positive effect, particularly in firms with strong internal governance. Mechanism analysis shows GFC alleviates financing constraints and boosts R&D investment. Further, GFC-induced smart manufacturing contributes to total factor productivity (TFP) growth, validating the Porter Hypothesis. These findings offer empirical insights into the synergy between green industrial policies and technological upgrading.