Evaluation of Technological Innovation Efficiency of New Energy Enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta Region—Based on a Two-Stage DEA Optimization Model

Abstract

Because of the shortcomings of the traditional two-stage DEA model, on the basis that the output of the first stage is completely transformed into the second-stage input. The investment of scientific and technological personnel and capital is added to construct a two-stage DEA optimization model to evaluate innovation efficiency. The model is used to empirically measure the overall efficiency of technological innovation and the efficiency of each sub-stage of the 22 new energy-listed companies in the Yangtze River Delta from 2014 to 2019. An efficiency matrix is proposed. The empirical results show that the overall innovation efficiency of new energy companies in the Yangtze River Delta Region is above the medium level and that there are phenomena such as the incoordination of input and output ratios in the companies’ innovation processes. The technological innovation efficiency of new energy companies has a two-stage nature, and efficiency gaps in different stages within each company are evident. The low efficiency of technology R&D is a key factor restricting the improvement of the overall innovation efficiency of new energy enterprises. The degree of economic transformation efficiency should be better to fit the overall efficiency.