Study on the Path of Digital Transformation of Manufacturing Industry and the Strategy to Eliminate “Digital Divide” under the Regional Integration of Yangtze River Delta

Based on the research of digital economy and digital transformation of manufacturing industry, the article constructs the evaluation index system of digital economy development level and digital transformation of manufacturing industry in Yangtze River Delta respectively. The entropy weight TOPSIS method is used to measure and analyze the level of digital economy development and the level of digital transformation of manufacturing industry in the Yangtze River Delta respectively. The coupling coordination degree of digital economy and manufacturing digital transformation in the Yangtze River Delta in general and in each province and city is calculated and analyzed. On the basis of the relevant conclusions, recommendations for the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry and the elimination of the “digital divide” in the Yangtze River Delta are proposed. The overall trend of digital economy in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is on the rise, but there is a significant “digital divide”. The increase in the level of digital economy development in the Yangtze River Delta over the past 10 years is 10.76%. The average value of digital economy development water in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui is 0.358, 0.549, 0.491, 0.185 respectively, and the development of digital economy in Anhui is insufficient. Shanghai’s manufacturing digitalization water average is 0.750, the highest level in the Yangtze River Delta. Zhejiang and Anhui are slightly behind in manufacturing digital transformation. The coupling coordination degree of digital economy and manufacturing digital transformation in the Yangtze River Delta grew from 0.592 to 0.879, and the type of coupling coordination development shifted from barely coordinated to well coordinated. Shanghai and Jiangsu have reached the good coordination level. Zhejiang is at the intermediate coordination level. And Anhui is at the barely coordinated stage, which is the lowest level in the Yangtze River Delta.