Digital Economy, Industry–Academia–Research Collaborative Innovation, and the Development of New-Quality Productive Forces

Under the continuous innovation and widespread application of digital technology, accelerating the formation of new-quality productive forces is an unavoidable theme of the times. Based on a systematic analysis of the logical relationships between the digital economy, industry–academia–research collaborative innovation, and new-quality productive forces, this article constructs a theoretical analysis framework for the impact of the digital economy on new-quality productive forces. This article also employs spatial econometric techniques and panel threshold models to empirically test the relationships among the three. This study finds that spatial correlation is a significant factor that cannot be ignored in the process of the digital economy and industry–academia–research collaborative innovation empowering the formation of new-quality productive forces. The empowering effects of the digital economy and industry–academia–research collaborative innovation on new-quality productive forces differ, with the former’s effect significantly higher than the latter. The combined effect of both shows a strong synergistic impact on accelerating the formation of new-quality productive forces. Further threshold model tests reveal that both the digital economy and industry–academia–research collaborative innovation have certain thresholds in promoting the development of new productive forces. Only when they achieve synergy and progress together can they maximize their respective roles in driving the development of new productive forces. This research is of great significance for fully leveraging the digital economy to empower the formation of new-quality productive forces, thereby promoting high-quality economic development in China.