The impact of digital finance on technological innovation across enterprise life cycles in China

Abstract

This study aims to fill a gap in our knowledge by analyzing how digital financing has affected technological innovation in China's firms across different growth phases. This article investigates the relationship between technological innovation efficiency and digital finance in China's A-share listed corporations between 2012 and 2022 using basic logistic modelling. Its main goal is to comprehend how digital finance affects these businesses' technological innovation efficiency from various angles. The study concludes that digital finance significantly improves the efficiency of technological innovation; more importantly, the Digital Finance Adoption Rate (DFAR) has a more significant influence than the Digital Finance Level (DFL). According to the Digital Transformation Maturity (DTM) scale, digital finance helps businesses transform digitally, increasing the effectiveness of technological innovation. State-owned businesses are more affected by the influence of digital finance on innovation efficiency than non-state-owned businesses. Other factors, including enterprise lifecycle, innovation investment, digital leadership, revenue strategies, and market rivalry, also shape the relationship between digital finance and technical innovation efficiency. To increase innovation efficiency, particularly in state-owned businesses, the study suggests expanding access to and adoption of digital finance. It also means leveraging elements such as enterprise lifecycle, innovation investment, digital leadership, revenue strategies, and market competition to spur more technological innovation. The impact of digital finance on technological innovation at different phases of organizational growth in China highlights the need for customized methods to harness its potential.