Digital innovation and carbon intensity: Dual mediating role of technological spillover and industrial agglomeration

In an era where digital innovation plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, its potential to simultaneously mitigate carbon emissions becomes increasingly significant. However, the specific mechanisms through which digital innovation affects carbon intensity (i.e., carbon emissions per GDP) require deeper investigation. Utilizing data from listed Chinese firms in the new energy vehicle manufacturing industry spanning from 2006 to 2021, this study examines the impact of enterprise digital innovation on regional carbon intensity, focusing on the mediating roles of technological spillover and industrial agglomeration. The results reveal a robust negative correlation between digital innovation and carbon intensity, which becomes more pronounced as digital innovation capabilities strengthen and regions move westward. Digital innovation promotes industrial agglomeration, which significantly contributes to reducing carbon intensity, thereby highlighting the mediating role of industrial agglomeration. Furthermore, digital innovation facilitates technological spillover, which subsequently enhances industrial agglomeration, revealing an indirect path by which digital innovation fosters the formation of industrial clusters. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and industrial stakeholders seeking to harness digital innovation to foster a low-carbon economy.