The influence and implications of technological factor evolution on the industrial structure transformation in resource-based cities

Industrial structure transformation represents a critical pathway for resource-based cities to overcome the "resource curse". This study examined 114 resource-based cities in China from 2012 to 2022 to investigate the influence mechanism of technological factor evolution on industrial structure transformation. The findings indicated that the horizontal evolution of technological factors significantly promoted industrial structure transformation. While vertical evolution initially inhibited industrial structure transformation, it ultimately enhanced the positive effect of horizontal evolution, thereby generating a synergistic interaction between the two dimensions of technological factors. Mechanism analysis revealed that enhancing human capital, advancing the deep integration of digital and real economies, and fostering green technological innovation constituted three key channels through which technological factor evolution drove industrial restructuring. Heterogeneity analysis further showed that the impact of technological factor evolution was more pronounced in cities without environmental policy pilot status, those with more developed data factors, and those with stronger talent attraction. The conclusions of this study offered valuable implications for promoting industrial transformation through the structural evolution of technological factors and facilitating comprehensive industrial upgrading.