The Impact of Green Technology Innovation's Mediating Role on Digital Empowerment
Research Article
Open Access
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The Impact of Green Technology Innovation's Mediating Role on Digital Empowerment

Yuansong Wen 1*
1 Minjiang University
*Corresponding author: 3231703221@stu.mju.edu.cn
Published on 24 September 2025
Journal Cover
AEMPS Vol.219
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-387-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-388-8
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Abstract

Over the past few years, digital technologies—ranging from 5G and cloud computing to AI and blockchain—have undergone unprecedented, breakthrough innovations. Concurrently, tightening resource endowments and environmental constraints have elevated global awareness of energy conservation and carbon neutrality. Against this backdrop, this study explores the potential mediating role of innovation in green technology in facilitating the translation of digital empowerment into two key outcomes: green high-quality economic growth at the macro-level, and carbon performance at the level of individual firms. Balanced panel data on Chinese A-share manufacturing firms (2015–2023), augmented by longitudinal cases of Baosteel, Maersk, and Siemens, enable the application of threshold regression and bootstrap mediation analysis to pinpoint non-linear turning points and quantify indirect effects. Empirical evidence reveals that digital empowerment significantly fosters green high-quality development, but its efficacy is transmitted mainly via accelerated green technology innovation; the relationship is U-shaped, exhibits pronounced industry heterogeneity, and is strongly moderated by regional environmental regulation intensity. These findings enrich the digital–green nexus literature, offering targeted theoretical insights and practical guidance for corporate strategy and policymaking under China’s “dual carbon” goals.

Keywords:

Green technology innovation, digital empowerment, mediating effect, China manufacturing

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Wen,Y. (2025). The Impact of Green Technology Innovation's Mediating Role on Digital Empowerment. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,219,65-74.

References

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[2]. Liu, J., Fang, Y., Ma, Y. and Chi, Y. (2024) Digital economy, industrial agglomeration, and green innovation efficiency: Empirical analysis based on Chinese data. Journal of Applied Economics, 27, 1.

[3]. Sun, Z., Liu, J. and Tansuchat, R. (2023) China’s digital economy and enterprise labor demand: The mediating effects of green technology innovation. Sustainability, 15, 15.

[4]. Xi, L. and Wang, H. (2024) The influence of green innovation and digital transformation on the high-quality development of enterprises: The mediating role of ESG management. Sustainability, 16, 24.

[5]. Yin, S., Liu, L. and Mahmood, T. (2023) New trends in sustainable development for industry 5.0: Digital green innovation economy. Green and Low-Carbon Economy, 2, 4.

[6]. Chen, Z. and Xing, R. (2025) Digital economy, green innovation and high-quality economic development. International Review of Economics & Finance, 99.

[7]. Bukht, R. and Heeks, R. (2017) Defining, conceptualising and measuring the digital economy. Development Informatics working paper no. 68.

[8]. Jiang, Y. and Deng, F. (2022) Multi-dimensional threshold effects of the digital economy on green economic growth?—new evidence from China. Sustainability, 14, 19.

[9]. Chen, Y., Hu, S. and Wu, H. (2023) The digital economy, green technology innovation, and agricultural green total factor productivity. Agriculture, 13, 10.

[10]. Jiliang, Z. and Peng, Z. (2025) A Study on the Evaluation and Enhancement Mechanism of Digital Transformation Development Capabilities of Traditional Manufacturing Enterprises: A Case Study of Baosteel. Journal of Chongqing Technology and Business University (Social Sciences Edition), 6.

[11]. Dagar, M., Tate, M. and Johnstone, D. (2024) Digital transformation at Maersk: The never-ending pace of change. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 26, Issue 2.

[12]. Ren, Y., Xu, X., Yu, Y. and Zhang, Z. (2025) Carbon co-benefits of digital economy and green finance: empirical evidence from China. Carbon Balance and Management.

[13]. Cui, J. (2025) Exploring the Impact of Digital Leadership and Green Digital Innovation on Corporate Digital Transformation. Journal of Current Social Issues Studies, 2, 4.

[14]. Qu, F., Tang, Q., Li, C.M. and Liu, J. (2025) Exploring the impact of digital transformation on productivity: the role of artificial intelligence technology, green technology, and energy technology. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 1-32.

[15]. Lv, C., Shao, C. and Lee, C.C. (2021) Green technology innovation and financial development: Do environmental regulation and innovation output matter? Energy Economics, 98.

[16]. Kwilinski, A., Lyulyov, O. and Pimonenko, T. (2024) Green economic development and entrepreneurship transformation. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 12, No. 4.

[17]. Wang, C., Du, D., Liu, T., Li, X., Zhu, Y., Du, W., Xu, F., Yan, M. and Chen, J. (2024) Environmental Regulations, Green Technological Innovation, and Green Economy: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 16, Issue 13.

[18]. Fan, S., Tong, H. and Wang, S. (2025) A System Dynamics-Based Hybrid Digital Twin Model for Driving Green Manufacturing. Systems, 13, Issue 8.

[19]. Leong, W.Y. and Leong, W.S. (2023) Smart Manufacturing Technology for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Sustainability. 2023 IEEE 5th Eurasia Conference on IOT, Communication and Engineering.

[20]. Jiang, Y., Zhao, R. and Qin, G. (2024) How does digital finance reduce carbon emissions intensity? Evidence from chain mediation effect of production technology innovation and green technology innovation. Heliyon, 10, Issue 9.

[21]. Badini, S., Regondi, S. and Pugliese, R. (2024) Enhancing mechanical and bioinspired materials through generative AI approaches. Next Materials, 6.

[22]. Wu, Y., Shi, F. and Wang, Y. (2023) Driving Impact of Digital Transformation on Total Factor Productivity of Corporations: The Mediating Effect of Green Technology Innovation. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 60, 950-966.

[23]. Shuja, J., Gani, A., Shamshirband, S., Ahmad, R.W. and Bilal, K. (2018) Sustainable Cloud Data Centers: A Survey of Enabling Techniques and Technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 62, 195-214.

[24]. Du, K., Cheng, Y. and Yao, X. (2021) Environmental regulation, green technology innovation, and industrial structure upgrading: The road to the green transformation of Chinese cities. Energy Economics, 98, 105247.

[25]. Li, J., Li, G., Xie, J. and Zhang, G. (2024) Dynamic simulation of policy-driven green technology innovation networks: Digital empowerment and collaborative efficiency. Heliyon, 10, Issue 16.

[26]. Chatzistamoulou, N. and Koundouri, P. (2024) Is Green Transition in Europe Fostered by Energy and Environmental Efficiency Feedback Loops? The Role of Eco‐Innovation, Renewable Energy and Green Taxation. Environmental and Resource Economics, 87, 1445–1472.

[27]. Yin, S. and Zhao, Y. (2024) Digital green value co-creation behavior, digital green network embedding and digital green innovation performance: Moderating effects of digital green network fragmentation. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 228.

References

[1]. Liao, W. (2023) How does the digital economy affect the development of the green economy? Evidence from Chinese cities. PloS one.

[2]. Liu, J., Fang, Y., Ma, Y. and Chi, Y. (2024) Digital economy, industrial agglomeration, and green innovation efficiency: Empirical analysis based on Chinese data. Journal of Applied Economics, 27, 1.

[3]. Sun, Z., Liu, J. and Tansuchat, R. (2023) China’s digital economy and enterprise labor demand: The mediating effects of green technology innovation. Sustainability, 15, 15.

[4]. Xi, L. and Wang, H. (2024) The influence of green innovation and digital transformation on the high-quality development of enterprises: The mediating role of ESG management. Sustainability, 16, 24.

[5]. Yin, S., Liu, L. and Mahmood, T. (2023) New trends in sustainable development for industry 5.0: Digital green innovation economy. Green and Low-Carbon Economy, 2, 4.

[6]. Chen, Z. and Xing, R. (2025) Digital economy, green innovation and high-quality economic development. International Review of Economics & Finance, 99.

[7]. Bukht, R. and Heeks, R. (2017) Defining, conceptualising and measuring the digital economy. Development Informatics working paper no. 68.

[8]. Jiang, Y. and Deng, F. (2022) Multi-dimensional threshold effects of the digital economy on green economic growth?—new evidence from China. Sustainability, 14, 19.

[9]. Chen, Y., Hu, S. and Wu, H. (2023) The digital economy, green technology innovation, and agricultural green total factor productivity. Agriculture, 13, 10.

[10]. Jiliang, Z. and Peng, Z. (2025) A Study on the Evaluation and Enhancement Mechanism of Digital Transformation Development Capabilities of Traditional Manufacturing Enterprises: A Case Study of Baosteel. Journal of Chongqing Technology and Business University (Social Sciences Edition), 6.

[11]. Dagar, M., Tate, M. and Johnstone, D. (2024) Digital transformation at Maersk: The never-ending pace of change. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 26, Issue 2.

[12]. Ren, Y., Xu, X., Yu, Y. and Zhang, Z. (2025) Carbon co-benefits of digital economy and green finance: empirical evidence from China. Carbon Balance and Management.

[13]. Cui, J. (2025) Exploring the Impact of Digital Leadership and Green Digital Innovation on Corporate Digital Transformation. Journal of Current Social Issues Studies, 2, 4.

[14]. Qu, F., Tang, Q., Li, C.M. and Liu, J. (2025) Exploring the impact of digital transformation on productivity: the role of artificial intelligence technology, green technology, and energy technology. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 1-32.

[15]. Lv, C., Shao, C. and Lee, C.C. (2021) Green technology innovation and financial development: Do environmental regulation and innovation output matter? Energy Economics, 98.

[16]. Kwilinski, A., Lyulyov, O. and Pimonenko, T. (2024) Green economic development and entrepreneurship transformation. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 12, No. 4.

[17]. Wang, C., Du, D., Liu, T., Li, X., Zhu, Y., Du, W., Xu, F., Yan, M. and Chen, J. (2024) Environmental Regulations, Green Technological Innovation, and Green Economy: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 16, Issue 13.

[18]. Fan, S., Tong, H. and Wang, S. (2025) A System Dynamics-Based Hybrid Digital Twin Model for Driving Green Manufacturing. Systems, 13, Issue 8.

[19]. Leong, W.Y. and Leong, W.S. (2023) Smart Manufacturing Technology for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Sustainability. 2023 IEEE 5th Eurasia Conference on IOT, Communication and Engineering.

[20]. Jiang, Y., Zhao, R. and Qin, G. (2024) How does digital finance reduce carbon emissions intensity? Evidence from chain mediation effect of production technology innovation and green technology innovation. Heliyon, 10, Issue 9.

[21]. Badini, S., Regondi, S. and Pugliese, R. (2024) Enhancing mechanical and bioinspired materials through generative AI approaches. Next Materials, 6.

[22]. Wu, Y., Shi, F. and Wang, Y. (2023) Driving Impact of Digital Transformation on Total Factor Productivity of Corporations: The Mediating Effect of Green Technology Innovation. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 60, 950-966.

[23]. Shuja, J., Gani, A., Shamshirband, S., Ahmad, R.W. and Bilal, K. (2018) Sustainable Cloud Data Centers: A Survey of Enabling Techniques and Technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 62, 195-214.

[24]. Du, K., Cheng, Y. and Yao, X. (2021) Environmental regulation, green technology innovation, and industrial structure upgrading: The road to the green transformation of Chinese cities. Energy Economics, 98, 105247.

[25]. Li, J., Li, G., Xie, J. and Zhang, G. (2024) Dynamic simulation of policy-driven green technology innovation networks: Digital empowerment and collaborative efficiency. Heliyon, 10, Issue 16.

[26]. Chatzistamoulou, N. and Koundouri, P. (2024) Is Green Transition in Europe Fostered by Energy and Environmental Efficiency Feedback Loops? The Role of Eco‐Innovation, Renewable Energy and Green Taxation. Environmental and Resource Economics, 87, 1445–1472.

[27]. Yin, S. and Zhao, Y. (2024) Digital green value co-creation behavior, digital green network embedding and digital green innovation performance: Moderating effects of digital green network fragmentation. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 228.

Cite this article

Wen,Y. (2025). The Impact of Green Technology Innovation's Mediating Role on Digital Empowerment. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,219,65-74.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICFTBA 2025 Symposium: Financial Framework's Role in Economics and Management of Human-Centered Development

ISBN: 978-1-80590-387-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-388-8(Online)
Editor: Lukáš Vartiak, Habil. Florian Marcel Nuţă
Conference website: https://2025.icftba.org/Galati.html
Conference date: 17 October 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.219
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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