Does scientific and technological innovation promote regional coordination of socio-economy, environment, and energy? Evidence from quantitative research in China

The study of coordinated cross-regional development led by scientific and technological innovation (STI) is vital in promoting high-quality development in China. However, there is limited research on the coordination status, driving mechanism, and key influencing factors of STI in China. This study has proposed the interrelationship between STI, socio-economic, ecological environment, and energy consumption (SEEE) with coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, conducted a spatio-temporal evolution heterogeneity analysis, and identified the key barriers to meet the needs of an increasingly complex and interacting social reality. The results show that: (1) The current CCD of the SEEE system shows a clear stepped state in time sequence with an unbalance development class among cross-regional; (2) The CCD of the SEEE system has a significant spatial positive correlation, which shows a geographical distribution trend of "high in the south and low in the north," "high in the east and low in the west," and " bulging in the middle and low in the ends." The regions with high CCD are clustered in the "coastal and riverine" areas, which can drive the neighboring provinces through spatial association. Central China has great potential to rise fast; (3) STI subsystem is the key obstacle affecting CCD development. Still, the energy consumption subsystem has an insignificant impact, of which the "transaction value in technical markets" indicator is the key obstacle factor. This paper puts forward policy implications based on the study results.