Does Urban Greening Construction Promote Technological Innovation of Enterprises? Evidence from China

Abstract

Based on data for cities and enterprises in China from 2009 to 2020, we examine the effect of urban greening construction on corporate technological innovation. Urban greening construction has a pronounced promoting effect on the technological innovation of enterprises, which is more significant among enterprises in the Eastern Region, enterprises in heavily polluting industries and state-owned enterprises. However, urban greening construction only has a significant promoting effect on enterprise invention and green patent applications and has no significant promoting effect on utility models and design patent applications. In addition, urban greening construction mainly enhances enterprise technological innovation by strengthening enterprise environmental responsibility undertaking, enhancing urban human capital density, and improving urban air quality. Promoting the urban marketability process can significantly enhance the role of urban greening construction in enterprise technological innovation.