Study on the sustainability of innovation resource allocation: measurement, spatial differentiation and dynamic evolution in China

Abstract In response to the imbalanced innovation development in Chinese provinces, this study evaluated the degree and direction of innovation resource misallocation, and further clarified the misallocation characteristics and optimal allocation strategy from the perspective of sustainability innovation. The results show that overall misallocation of innovation capital and personnel has eased. However, central and western regions have excessive capital allocation and insufficient personnel allocation, and the eastern region has insufficient capital allocation. The output gap due to misallocation remains severe, especially for innovation personnel. The Spatial differentiation of misallocation shows a fluctuating downward trend nationally and in major regions, driven primarily by the cross-regional overlap of inefficient innovation resource allocation. Dynamic evolution reveals widening gaps in eastern regions for innovation capital misallocation and spatial polarization in central and western regions for innovation personnel misallocation. These findings highlight the need for coordinated strategies to enhance sustainable innovation resource allocation across regions.