Purpose In the context of global digital development, enterprises collaborate and innovate within increasingly digitalized ecosystems. This study aims to investigate how network embeddedness influences enterprise innovation performance, with particular attention to the moderating role of regional digital development. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual framework is developed to examine the effects of network embeddedness on innovation performance under varying levels of digital development. Six hypotheses are proposed and tested using patent data from the ICT industry spanning 1995–2021, focusing on patents with multiple assignees. Negative binomial regression is used to assess the model. Findings Results reveal that an enterprise’s centrality exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with innovation performance, while occupying a greater number of structural holes has a positive effect on innovation performance. Although prior interactions generally enhance innovation, excessive repeated collaboration may hinder it. Digital development does not significantly alter the centrality–innovation relationship but attenuates the positive effects of both structural holes and relational embeddedness. Originality/value This study embeds enterprise collaborative networks within the digital context, elucidates the evolving impact of network embeddedness on innovation performance and extends the theoretical and practical relevance of network embeddedness in the era of digital transformation.
Ju et al. (Fri,) studied this question.