The Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on High-Quality Innovation Development: A Study Based on Listed Companies

Based on data from Chinese listed companies, this study explores the impact mechanism of corporate ESG performance on high-quality innovation development. It analyzes how ESG performance indirectly enhances innovation quality by improving corporate performance and risk management capabilities. The findings indicate that ESG performance not only directly promotes corporate investment in innovation, intellectual property capabilities, realization of innovation value, and market influence but also provides solid support for high-quality innovation development by strengthening corporate performance and risk control. Specifically, companies with superior ESG performance demonstrate stronger capabilities in technological research and development, achievement transformation, value realization, and market competitiveness while also exhibiting greater long-term resilience and risk resistance. This study enriches the theoretical framework of ESG and corporate innovation and provides important practical insights for enterprises on how to achieve high-quality innovation development through ESG management. Based on the research conclusions, this paper suggests that the government standardize ESG information disclosure and use policy tools such as tax incentives and subsidies to encourage enterprises to increase their ESG investments. Additionally, financial institutions should be encouraged to develop ESG-linked financing products to provide stable funding support for corporate innovation activities.