Policy Coordination Between Digital Infrastructure and Low-Carbon Governance: Evidence on Corporate Digital-Green Knowledge Recombination

Digitalization and low-carbon transition are increasingly pursued together, but their coexistence does not ensure that firms connect the two technological domains. This study examines whether the joint implementation of digital-infrastructure and low-carbon-governance policies is associated with corporate digital-green knowledge recombination (DGKR). Using Chinese A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2023 and their invention-patent histories, we measure DGKR by digital-green IPC combinations appearing for the first time in a firm’s patent portfolio. Joint policy implementation is associated with more novel combinations, and the increase emerges only after several years. The finding remains stable under finer IPC classifications, a green-main-anchored patent definition, restrictions on patent classification scope, and a persistence requirement. Additional evidence links joint policy exposure to broader external knowledge search and an innovation environment more supportive of uncertain projects. The estimated association is larger among firms with stronger pre-policy resources and technological bases. These results suggest that coordinated digital and environmental policies may support new connections between previously separate technological domains.