IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-05194-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multiplication of number and quality rise: data elements enable low-carbon innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Dongri Han

    (Shandong University of Technology)

  • Ke Lu

    (Shandong University of Technology)

  • Peisen Liu

    (Shandong University of Technology)

Abstract

Low-carbon innovation, as a key driving force for achieving the “dual carbon” goals, is crucial for promoting the process of environmental sustainability and accelerating the development of a green economy. Based on panel data from 288 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2022, a benchmark regression model, mediating effect model and threshold regression model were constructed to systematically examine the effects of data elements on the quality and number of regional low-carbon innovation. The results reveal that: (1) Data elements can promote the increases in the number and quality of regional low-carbon innovation, and this conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) Data elements can directly promote the quality and number of regional low-carbon innovation, and indirectly affect the quality and number of low-carbon innovation through integrating data elements and technology elements, data elements and labor elements, and data elements and capital elements. (3) According to the threshold effect test, data elements have different threshold effects on low-carbon innovation. Specifically, data elements can play a stronger positive role at higher integration levels of data and technology elements, data and labor elements, and data and capital elements. These research conclusions have important implications for leveraging the role of data elements and accelerating the realization of low-carbon innovation-driven development.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongri Han & Ke Lu & Peisen Liu, 2025. "Multiplication of number and quality rise: data elements enable low-carbon innovation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05194-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05194-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05194-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-05194-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shuming Ren & Lianqing Li & Yueqi Han & Yu Hao & Haitao Wu, 2022. "The emerging driving force of inclusive green growth: Does digital economy agglomeration work?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1656-1678, May.
    2. Arkadiusz Świadek & Jadwiga Gorączkowska & Karolina Godzisz, 2021. "Conditions Driving Low-Carbon Innovation in a Medium-Sized European Country That Is Catching Up–Case Study of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Pettifor, Hazel & Wilson, Charlie, 2020. "Low carbon innovations for mobility, food, homes and energy: A synthesis of consumer attributes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    4. Kim, Yeong Jae, 2022. "The countervailing effects of stocks of knowledge on low-carbon innovation through international collaboration," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    5. Ma, Shiyu & Gao, Yuguo & Li, Hui, 2024. "Digital economic, resource curse and the development of low-carbon transformation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Hu, Shuai & Xiang, Yue & Zhang, Hongcai & Xie, Shanyi & Li, Jianhua & Gu, Chenghong & Sun, Wei & Liu, Junyong, 2021. "Hybrid forecasting method for wind power integrating spatial correlation and corrected numerical weather prediction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    7. Fabian Gaessler & Stefan Wagner, 2022. "Patents, Data Exclusivity, and the Development of New Drugs," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 104(3), pages 571-586, May.
    8. Keyong Zhang & Yifeng Wen & Yunxia Wu, 2024. "How Digital Innovation Ecosystems Facilitate Low-Carbon Transformation of the Economy Based on a Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Yang Liu & Yanxiang Xie & Kaiyang Zhong, 2024. "Impact of digital economy on urban sustainable development: Evidence from Chinese cities," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 307-324, February.
    10. Rui Li & Jing Rao & Liangyong Wan, 2022. "The digital economy, enterprise digital transformation, and enterprise innovation," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 2875-2886, October.
    11. Yang Liu & Yanlin Yang & Huihui Li & Kaiyang Zhong, 2022. "Digital Economy Development, Industrial Structure Upgrading and Green Total Factor Productivity: Empirical Evidence from China’s Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    12. Dongri Han & Hongshuang Wu & Ke Lu, 2024. "The effect of data element agglomeration on green innovation vitality in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Zhong, Changbiao & Zhang, Chao, 2024. "Can data elements enhance urban innovation? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    14. Ma, Qiang & Tariq, Muhammad & Mahmood, Haider & Khan, Zeeshan, 2022. "The nexus between digital economy and carbon dioxide emissions in China: The moderating role of investments in research and development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Charles I. Jones & Christopher Tonetti, 2020. "Nonrivalry and the Economics of Data," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2819-2858, September.
    16. Wang, Ying & Li, Mingsheng, 2022. "Credit policy and its heterogeneous effects on green innovations," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    17. Ren, Yuheng & Zhang, Jue & Wang, Xin, 2024. "How does data factor utilization stimulate corporate total factor productivity: A discussion of the productivity paradox," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PC).
    18. Mummolo, Jonathan & Peterson, Erik, 2018. "Improving the Interpretation of Fixed Effects Regression Results," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(4), pages 829-835, October.
    19. Sa Xu & Cunyi Yang & Zhehao Huang & Pierre Failler, 2022. "Interaction between Digital Economy and Environmental Pollution: New Evidence from a Spatial Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-23, April.
    20. Zhang, Wenxi & Wang, Bo & Wang, Jian & Wu, Qun & Wei, Yehua Dennis, 2022. "How does industrial agglomeration affect urban land use efficiency? A spatial analysis of Chinese cities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    21. Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Zhao, Shikuan & Goodell, John W. & Liu, Xiaoqian, 2024. "Digital economy policy and corporate low-carbon innovation: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    22. Taohong Wang & Zhe Song & Jing Zhou & Huaping Sun & Fengqin Liu, 2022. "Low-Carbon Transition and Green Innovation: Evidence from Pilot Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, June.
    23. Matthias Breuer & Ed Dehaan, 2024. "Using and Interpreting Fixed Effects Models," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(4), pages 1183-1226, September.
    24. Zuoyufan Sheng & Chengpeng Zhu & Mo Chen, 2024. "Exploring the Impact of the Digital Economy on Green Total Factor Productivity—Evidence from Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, March.
    25. Zhang, Wei & Li, Guoxiang & Guo, Fanyong, 2022. "Does carbon emissions trading promote green technology innovation in China?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    26. Wei Pei & Lei Hao & Qiang Fu & Yongtai Ren & Tianxiao Li, 2023. "Study on Agricultural Drought Risk Assessment Based on Information Entropy and a Cluster Projection Pursuit Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(2), pages 619-638, January.
    27. Hasan Evrim Arici & Muzaffer Uysal, 2022. "Leadership, green innovation, and green creativity: a systematic review," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(5-6), pages 280-320, April.
    28. Danli Du & Xiaojie Jian, 2024. "Enhancing the resilience of regional digital innovation ecosystems: a pathway analysis from the lens of resource orchestration theory," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 73(4), pages 1811-1838, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yunyan Jiang & Feng Deng, 2022. "Multi-Dimensional Threshold Effects of the Digital Economy on Green Economic Growth?—New Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Wang, Bo & Wang, Jianda, 2025. "China’s green digital era: How does digital economy enable green economic growth?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(1).
    3. Li Zhou & Shuning Zhang & Chenjing Zhou & Shuai Yuan & Hong Jiang & Yifeng Wang, 2024. "The impact of the digital economy on high-quality agricultural development——Based on the regulatory effects of financial development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-25, March.
    4. Shunbin Zhong & Huafu Shen & Ziheng Niu & Yang Yu & Lin Pan & Yaojun Fan & Atif Jahanger, 2022. "Moving towards Environmental Sustainability: Can Digital Economy Reduce Environmental Degradation in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-23, November.
    5. Guo, Bingnan & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Hao & Liang, Chunyan & Feng, Yu & Hu, Feng, 2023. "Impact of the digital economy on high-quality urban economic development: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    6. Xu, Ru-Yu & Wang, Ke-Liang & Miao, Zhuang, 2024. "Exploring the impact of digital industry agglomeration on provincial energy efficiency in China: A panel data analysis from 2012 to 2020," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Yukun Ma & Shaojian Wang & Chunshan Zhou, 2023. "Can the Development of the Digital Economy Reduce Urban Carbon Emissions? Case Study of Guangdong Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Chen, Ke & Li, Qiyuan & Shoaib, Muhammad & Ameer, Waqar & Jiang, Tao, 2024. "Does improved digital governance in government promote natural resource management? Quasi-natural experiments based on smart city pilots," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    9. Hongyang Yu & Jinchao Wang & Jiajun Xu & Binghao Ding, 2025. "Does digital economy agglomeration promote green economy efficiency? A spatial spillover and spatial heterogeneity perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 7379-7406, March.
    10. Ren, Xiaohang & Zeng, Gudian & Zhao, Yang, 2023. "Digital finance and corporate ESG performance: Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Pei Zhao & Junhua Guo & Yang Wang, 2023. "How Does the Digital Economy Affect Green Development?—Evidence from 284 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, July.
    12. Razzaq, Asif & Yang, Xiaodong, 2023. "Digital finance and green growth in China: Appraising inclusive digital finance using web crawler technology and big data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    13. Zhong, Changbiao & Zhang, Chao, 2024. "Can data elements enhance urban innovation? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    14. Wei Yang & Qiuxia Chen & Qiuqi Guo & Xiaoting Huang, 2022. "Towards Sustainable Development: How Digitalization, Technological Innovation, and Green Economic Development Interact with Each Other," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    15. Shi, Guanqing & Li, Qiyuan & Wei, Yu & Ali, Madad & Lv, Xinyu, 2024. "Does digital technology advancement promote natural resource utilization efficiency?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    16. Huang, Junbing & Wang, Yajun & Yang, Aiwei & Zhou, Hongxu & Fan, Chuanqi, 2025. "Digitization and industrial low-carbon energy transition in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    17. Kai Chen & Feng Guo & Shuang Xu, 2022. "The Impact of Digital Economy Agglomeration on Regional Green Total Factor Productivity Disparity: Evidence from 285 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    18. Yuan Feng & Ying Li & Changfei Nie, 2024. "Digital technology innovation and synergy of pollution control and carbon reduction: empirical evidence from digital patents in Chinese cities," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 1-29, December.
    19. Xinfeng Chang & Jian Su & Zihe Yang, 2022. "The Effect of Digital Economy on Urban Green Transformation—An Empirical Study Based on the Yangtze River Delta City Cluster in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    20. Na Yu & Jianghua Chen & Lei Cheng, 2022. "Evolutionary Game Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction between Government and Enterprises under Carbon Quota Trading Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-22, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05194-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.