Niche fitness of digital innovation ecosystems: evaluation, dynamic evolution and spatial effects

Purpose This study aims to explore the current development status, spatiotemporal evolution, and spatial effects of niche fitness in China’s regional digital innovation ecosystems (DIEs), providing guidance for coordinated regional digital innovation. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing ecological niche theory, this study develops an evaluation system for DIEs niche fitness, calculates the niche fitness and evolutionary momentum across 31 provinces (including municipalities and autonomous regions, excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) of China from 2014 to 2022 and analyzes their spatiotemporal characteristics. And a dynamic spatial Durbin model is employed to assess spatial effects. Findings The findings reveal that from 2014 to 2022, the niche fitness of China’s regional DIEs exhibited an overall upward trend, particularly in the eastern regions. Fitness was higher in the east and south and lower in the west and north. Resource and technology fitness steadily increased, while innovation community fitness slightly declined. Both overall and individual ecological element niche fitness demonstrate significant temporal inertia, with the overall niche fitness also exhibiting spatial spillover effects. Originality/value This study applies ecological niche theory to DIEs, offering a novel perspective on their dynamics and providing theoretical support for optimizing innovation policies, promoting regional balanced development and advancing the twin transition process.