Factors influencing the patent value in reverse innovation of developing country under background of carbon neutrality

Global carbon neutrality needs to improve developing countries’ innovation. Reverse innovation is not only a strategic action of innovation internationalization for enterprises in developed economies, but also an important way for enterprises in developing countries to realize leapfrog development of innovation capability, it comprehensively reflects the innovation ability of developing countries and owning high-value patents is the key to the success of reverse innovations. However, it needs to be clarified what factors will influence the patent value in the developing countries’ reverse innovation. In this paper, a theoretical analysis framework that is more comprehensive and better reflects the complicated relationship of various factors is proposed. In consideration of the dynamic development process of reverse innovations, the hierarchical linear model is built to probe into the factors influencing the patent value in different stages of reverse innovation. Finally, an empirical study is conducted based on the data from Chinese firms. It found that for the enterprises in developing countries, the factors influencing the patent value vary in different stages of reverse innovation and that market and system factors will regulate the influence of technological and organizational factors on the patent value on a cross-layer basis. This research provides a theoretical basis and decision reference for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of forming the patent value in the reverse innovations made by local enterprises in developing countries and the ways to improve such mechanism.