The New Energy Industry (NEI) is a strategic sector for harmonizing the energy-economy-environment nexus, yet it faces challenges from high technological complexity and industrial fragmentation. DIT enables enterprises to transition from passive response to proactive implementation of systematic adjustments. This study explores how Digital Intelligence Technology (DIT) drives integrated innovation within the sector. Utilizing a panel dataset of 750 listed firms from 2007 to 2023, we examine the influence of DIT through mediation, threshold, and moderation models. Our findings indicate that DIT significantly facilitates integrated innovation by expanding corporate capabilities and reducing information asymmetries. This impact is primarily contingent upon R specifically, once R&D investment surpasses 7.88%, DIT generates a multiplier effect with internal capabilities, substantially accelerating the integration of internal and external innovation elements. Furthermore, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) demonstrate superior efficiency in leveraging DIT for innovative outcomes compared to non-SOEs, bolstered by policy advantages. Government subsidies further mitigate resource constraints and enhance risk-bearing capacity. These results provide critical strategic insights for NEI to refine R&D management and bolster human capital, ultimately helping the industry achieve a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Zhao et al. (Wed,) studied this question.