Impact factors and evolutionary pathways of scientific-driven technological innovation performance
The evolution of science and technology is one of the most important and complex issues in academia.With the accelerating integration of scientific,technological,economic,and social development,industrial technological innovation has become a focal point of theoretical research.However,existing studies have primarily focused on the influencing factors of industrial innovation performance from the perspectives of policy support,technological development,and market economy,often neglecting the crucial role of scientific research at the forefront of industry.This study,from a science-driven perspective,takes the 5G communications industry-a typical science-driven industry-as an example.It creatively combines the fsQCA method with simulation modeling analysis to better depict the evolutionary process from scientific research to technological innovation.This research has yielded several valuable conclusions.Firstly,the complex and dynamic evolutionary process between science and technology is a process where quantitative changes in sci-ence lead to qualitative changes in technological innovation.This process is influenced by multiple factors such as scientific research in-vestment and output,the intensity of scientific linkage,scientific collaboration networks,and firm scientific capabilities.The interac-tion between these influencing factors can accelerate the evolutionary process and shorten the evolutionary cycle.Science-based inno-vation is the core condition for transforming scientific research into technological achievements and is the decisive factor for industrial technological breakthroughs.The diffusion and application of science-based innovation results spur a large number of technological in-novations,thereby pushing the industry into a rapid development cycle.Moreover,the heterogeneous effects of multi-actor participa-tion in scientific research on the evolutionary process of technological innovation performance are evident.In the early stages of industri-al development,scientific exploration mainly relies on universities and research institutions.However,firm participation in scientific research can effectively promote the transformation of science into technology and subsequent commercialization.On the basis of scien-tific breakthroughs,firm participation-particularly the scale of participation-plays a more critical role in promoting technological in-novation performance.Additionally,this study proposes three configuration paths for enhancing technological innovation performance:all-element science innovation-driven type,dual-element scientific ecosystem-driven type,and single-element scientific linkage absorption type.Different development paths can be selected based on the varying conditions of science-driven factors in a country or industry.Based on the research conclusions,this paper offers several policy recommendations for developing science-driven industries in China.These include constructing a science-driven national innovation system,creating new types of industry-university-re-search collaborative innovation organizations,emphasizing the cultivation of science-based innovation,and optimizing the layout of scientific research investment to leverage its guiding value.These recommendations have strong practical implications.In summary,this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary process from scientific research to technological innovation in the 5G com-munications industry,highlighting the multifaceted influences and interactions that drive this evolution.The findings underscore the im-portance of scientific research as a foundational element in industrial technological innovation and offer actionable insights for policy-makers and industry stakeholders aiming to foster science-driven industrial development.