New energy pilot policy, financial subsidies and green technology progress

The effectiveness of new energy pilot policies in advancing regional green technology is crucial for the upgrading of Chinese enterprises and regional green transformation. This study analyzes data from 253 regions in China, covering the period from 2010 to 2022, to assess the impact of new energy pilot policies on regional green technology progress and its underlying mechanisms using a difference-in-differences model. The results indicate that these policies significantly contribute to regional green technology advancement, particularly by increasing the authorization of green invention patents. The analysis reveals that new energy pilot policies enhance green technology innovation through regional financial subsidies. Human capital and environmental pressure moderated the impact of new energy pilot policies on green technology progress. At the same time, human capital influences the mediating effect of fiscal subsidies and moderates the first half of the effect of fiscal subsidies. By examining the interplay between financial subsidies, human capital, and environmental pressure, this study offers new empirical evidences and insights for promoting regional green technology progress in China and provides valuable guidances for government policy implementation. • The impact of pilot policies on the advancement of green technologies. • The analysis incorporates data from 262 regions spanning from 2010 to 2020. • This study employs a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model for the research.