Research on the Driving Mechanism of the Innovation Ecosystem in China’s Marine Engineering Equipment Manufacturing Industry

To enhance the strength of the marine economy, safeguard marine rights and interests, and promote the sustainable development of marine resources, China is actively building an innovation ecosystem in the marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry. Currently, the main challenge facing China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry innovation ecosystem is a lack of driving forces. Therefore, this paper focuses on the driving mechanism of China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry innovation ecosystem. Through a literature-coding analysis and interpretive structural modeling (ISM), 17 driving factors of the innovation ecosystem in China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry were identified, and an analytical model was constructed to explore the relationships among these driving factors. Combining data from industry experts, the paper reveals the driving mechanism of China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry innovation ecosystem. The results show that the management level, the risk-resilience capability of marine engineering equipment manufacturing enterprises, and the guidance capacity of universities and research institutions are key driving factors of the innovation ecosystem in China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry. Strengthening these driving factors can enhance the system’s overall driving force, contributing to the high-quality development of China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry. The significance of this study lies in providing a theoretical basis for optimizing the allocation of driving factors in China’s marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry innovation ecosystem and offering important pathways for innovation in and the development of the global marine engineering equipment manufacturing industry.