Shuo Shang, Haibing Jiang

This paper aims to reveal the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and influencing factors of manufacturing innovation capacity in the Yangtze River Delta region, providing empirical references for formulating regional manufacturing innovation center layout policies. Using the number of patents granted in the manufacturing industry to represent manufacturing innovation capacity, exploratory spatial data analysis, the Modified Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, and panel data regression analysis are employed to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of manufacturing innovation capacity at regional, provincial, prefectural, and county levels. The study explores the factors affecting the spatial differences in manufacturing innovation capacity and their strength. The spatial equity of manufacturing innovation capacity in the Yangtze River Delta region has improved, the gap in innovation capacity among various areas has narrowed, and the degree of spatial agglomeration in innovation capacity has decreased. High-value and high-growth areas of manufacturing innovation capacity exhibit hierarchical and central city adjacency distribution, with hotspots evolving from "single core" to "multi-core." Income levels play a prominent role in enhancing manufacturing innovation capacity. The scale of scientific and technological talents, the level of financial development, economic foundation, and informatization level significantly influence various industries. Therefore, each region should scientifically and rationally plan the configuration of manufacturing innovation centers based on location advantages and resource endowments. Establish a regional manufacturing innovation center system, create manufacturing innovation centers of different levels, build cross-regional innovation cooperation networks, and promote the construction of regional innovation communities.