How Does the Innovation Openness of China’s Sci-Tech Innovation Enterprises Support Innovation Quality: The Mediation Role of Structural Embeddedness

Sci-Tech innovation enterprises (STIEs) in China are responsible for improving the quality of national innovation (IQ). Because of their inherent innovation openness (IO), STIEs are facing constantly changing external cooperation channels and gradually optimizing their openness. However, existing research considers external cooperation relationships as established network environments, which may not apply to STIEs’ network relationships that are still under construction. Hence, this study investigates the impact of STIEs’ IO on IQ by exploring the role of structure embeddedness (SE). Empirical findings from 362 sample enterprises suggest that openness breadth and depth have an inverted U-shaped relationship with IQ, while openness balance impacts IQ positively. Moreover, network centrality plays a partial mediation role between openness depth and IQ, and network reach fully mediates the relationship between openness balance and IQ. The results indicate the influence of three openness factors on IQ and further expand the research on the SE of STIEs in the dynamic development stage. These can support STIEs to improve IQ through the adjustment of network centrality and reach by changing their openness depth and balance.