How Does the Synergy between Technical Standards and Intellectual Property Rights Affect the Digital Transformation of the Automotive Industry? Empirical Evidence from China

The intensification of technological competition induced by digital technologies has underscored the significance of technical regulations and innovation systems, influencing the process of digital transformation in industries through the synergistic development trend of technical standards and intellectual property rights. This study focuses on the Chinese automotive industry, utilizing data from 155 Chinese listed automotive companies from 2016 to 2021 to analyze the impact and mechanism of action of the synergy between technical standards and intellectual property rights on digital transformation. The findings reveal that the synergy between technical standards and intellectual property rights exerts an impact on digital transformation, displaying an ‘inverted U-shaped’ curve effect.The influence of this synergy on new energy automotive companies and autonomous automotive companies is lower compared to non-new energy and non-autonomous automotive companies. Open innovation plays a partial mediating role in the impact of the synergy between technical standards and intellectual property rights on digital transformation, while environmental uncertainty exhibits a positive moderating effect in the impact of this synergy through open innovation on digital transformation. We finalize our study by deliberating on how our insights might inform and enhance the practical roadmap for advancing the digital transformation of industries, through the synergy between technical standards and intellectual property rights.