Unveiling the Masking Effect: The Role of R&D Human Capital in Collaborative Innovation and Sustainability

This research aims to investigate the causal relationships among collaborative innovation, R&D human capital, and sustainable innovation, with a focus on the mediating role of R&D human capital. Design/methodology/approach – Using data from Chinese A-share listed companies (2009–2022), we first establish a strong causal link between collaborative innovation and sustainable innovation. We then uncover a masking effect of R&D human capital in this relationship. Grouped and quantile regressions explore how this effect varies by cooperation type, firm size, and industry. Findings – Collaborative innovation promotes sustainable innovation through R&D human capital, although this effect is slightly dampened by a masking mechanism. The positive effect is significant in inter-firm collaborations but not in industry-university partnerships, and it is more pronounced for firms with lower R&D levels. Practical implications – Firms may benefit from HR sharing. Policymakers should support HR integration to improve innovation quality and sustainability. Originality/value – This is the first study to highlight the mediating role of R&D human capital in linking collaborative innovation to sustainability. We show that excessive focus on output quantity may hinder sustainable progress.