Digital–Intelligent Synergy Empowers Chinese Firms’ Internationalization: A Dual Perspective Based on Green Innovation and Stable Investment

Amid the rapid growth of the digital economy and increasing global competition, the role of digital–intelligent technologies in enabling corporate internationalization has gained significant attention. From the perspective of “digital–intelligent synergy,” this study constructs a mediated moderation model to explore the impact mechanism of digital–intelligent synergy on corporate internationalization. The findings indicate that data assets, artificial intelligence, and digital–intelligent coupling coordination significantly enhance overseas revenue. Green technology innovation mediates this relationship, while investor stability exerts an asymmetrical moderating effect. This strengthens both the direct effect of digital–intelligent synergy on internationalization and its impact on green innovation, though not the path from green innovation to international performance. Further analysis indicates that self-use data assets significantly promote firm internationalization, while transactional data assets do not. Both AI technology and applications markedly enhance overseas expansion. For digital–intelligent coupling coordination, the level of coordination—not merely coupling intensity—positively affects internationalization level. By integrating green innovation and investor behavior perspectives, this study reveals the complex mechanisms through which digital–intelligent synergy empowers internationalization, offering theoretical and policy insights for corporate global expansion in the digital–green transition era.

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Publication Details

Journal
Sustainability
Published
2026-01-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020588
Primary Topic
International Business and FDI
Type
article
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Digital–Intelligent Synergy Empowers Chinese Firms’ Internationalization: A Dual Perspective Based on Green Innovation and Stable Investment

Jinsong Zhang, Yu Zhang
Sustainability
International Business and FDI
article

Digital–Intelligent Synergy Empowers Chinese Firms’ Internationalization: A Dual Perspective Based on Green Innovation and Stable Investment

Jinsong Zhang, Yu Zhang
article en

Abstract

Amid the rapid growth of the digital economy and increasing global competition, the role of digital–intelligent technologies in enabling corporate internationalization has gained significant attention. From the perspective of “digital–intelligent synergy,” this study constructs a mediated moderation model to explore the impact mechanism of digital–intelligent synergy on corporate internationalization. The findings indicate that data assets, artificial intelligence, and digital–intelligent coupling coordination significantly enhance overseas revenue. Green technology innovation mediates this relationship, while investor stability exerts an asymmetrical moderating effect. This strengthens both the direct effect of digital–intelligent synergy on internationalization and its impact on green innovation, though not the path from green innovation to international performance. Further analysis indicates that self-use data assets significantly promote firm internationalization, while transactional data assets do not. Both AI technology and applications markedly enhance overseas expansion. For digital–intelligent coupling coordination, the level of coordination—not merely coupling intensity—positively affects internationalization level. By integrating green innovation and investor behavior perspectives, this study reveals the complex mechanisms through which digital–intelligent synergy empowers internationalization, offering theoretical and policy insights for corporate global expansion in the digital–green transition era.

SustainabilityVol. 18(2)
Harbin University of Commerce (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
International Business and FDI
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