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The Persistent Innovation Effect of Platform Ecosystem Embeddedness

Author

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  • Qianying Wang

    (The College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Tingli Liu

    (The College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

  • Haoyu Wang

    (School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Tingyang Huang

    (The College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

Abstract

In the context of the digital economy, corporate innovation is shifting from an internally driven, linear model to a multilateral, collaborative mechanism enabled by platform ecosystems. This study integrates persistent innovation into the analytical framework of platform ecosystem embeddedness and evaluates its impact from two dimensions: innovation input and innovation output. Using panel data from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies between 2012 and 2023, we apply fixed effects models and mediation analysis to empirically examine the mechanisms through which platform ecosystem embeddedness affects innovation. The results show that platform ecosystem embeddedness significantly enhances companies’ persistent innovation. Specifically, it promotes innovation input by reducing supply–demand coordination costs and improving the operational efficiency of the company, and it boosts innovation output by facilitating knowledge flow and knowledge creation. Furthermore, the effects are more pronounced in industries characterized by high competition, rich regional resources, high-tech orientation, and low environmental pollution, where both input and output are strengthened. In contrast, in less competitive, resource-constrained, non-high-tech, and heavily polluting industries, the impact is mainly reflected in innovation output, with limited influence on input.

Suggested Citation

  • Qianying Wang & Tingli Liu & Haoyu Wang & Tingyang Huang, 2025. "The Persistent Innovation Effect of Platform Ecosystem Embeddedness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-29, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5507-:d:1679289
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