eLibrary
  • Home
  • Sources
  • Search
  • About

The Impact and Mechanism of Artificial Intelligence Applications on Enterprise Innovation: Evidence from Chinese SRDI Enterprises

Jingwen Yang, Yifan Li
Scientific Journal of Economics and Management Research, (2026), Vol.8, No.5, pp.64-77
Published: May 28, 2026
DOI: 10.54691/a5sp5g42
PDF: Download Full Text PDF
Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important strategic force driving enterprise transformation and innovation. In China, SRDI enterprises, namely, specialized, refinement, differential, and innovation-oriented enterprises, represent a critical group in the transformation toward high-quality development. Compared with ordinary small and medium-sized enterprises, SRDI enterprises possess stronger technological specialization, greater innovation potential, and more distinctive industrial positioning. However, they still face constraints in talent structure, knowledge integration, and innovation resource allocation during the process of intelligent upgrading. Against this background, this paper investigates the impact and underlying mechanisms of AI applications on enterprise innovation among SRDI enterprises. Following a two-way fixed-effects panel regression and mediation analysis framework, this study constructs a panel dataset of 959 SRDI enterprises from 2013 to 2024, covering manufacturing, industrial software, new materials, intelligent equipment, electronic information, and producer services. The empirical results show that AI applications significantly promote enterprise innovation. Mechanism tests indicate that AI improves innovation performance through three channels: knowledge spillover, human capital upgrading, and innovation factor allocation optimization. Heterogeneity analysis further demonstrates that the positive effect of AI is more pronounced among manufacturing-oriented SRDI enterprises, firms with higher R&D intensity, and enterprises located in regions with stronger digital infrastructure. Robustness checks based on lagged explanatory variables, alternative dependent variables, winsorization, and additional controls confirm the stability of the results. This paper extends the literature on AI and innovation by focusing on SRDI enterprises and provides practical implications for the cultivation of innovation ecosystems, intelligent transformation, and high-quality industrial development.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; SRDI Enterprises; Enterprise Innovation.
APA Citation: Jingwen Yang, Yifan Li (2026). The Impact and Mechanism of Artificial Intelligence Applications on Enterprise Innovation: Evidence from Chinese SRDI Enterprises. Scientific Journal of Economics and Management Research, 8(5), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.54691/a5sp5g42

References

  1. Minsky, M. (1961). Steps toward artificial intelligence. Proceedings of the IRE, 49(1), 8–30.
  2. Rai, A., Constantinides, P., & Sarker, S. (2019). Next-generation digital platforms: Towards human-AI hybrids. MIS Quarterly, 43(1), iii–ix.
  3. Kakatkar, C., Bilgram, V., & Füller, J. (2020). Innovation analytics: Leveraging artificial intelligence in the innovation process. Business Horizons, 63(2), 171–181.
  4. Haefner, N., Wincent, J., Parida, V., & Gassmann, O. (2021). Artificial intelligence and innovation management: A review, framework, and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 125, 246–259.
  5. Tekic, Z., & Füller, J. (2023). Managing innovation in the age of AI. California Management Review, 65(3), 5–23.
  6. Cockburn, I. M., Henderson, R., & Stern, S. (2019). The impact of artificial intelligence on innovation: An exploratory analysis. In A. Agrawal, J. Gans, & A. Goldfarb (Eds.), The economics of artificial intelligence: An agenda (pp. 115–146). University of Chicago Press.
  7. Rammer, C., Fernández, G. P., & Czarnitzki, D. (2022). Artificial intelligence and industrial innovation: Evidence from German firm-level data. Research Policy, 51(7), 104555.
  8. Fang, H. C. (2024). The impact and mechanism of artificial intelligence applications on enterprise innovation: Evidence from Chinese A-share listed companies. Science and Technology Management Research, (15), 157–167. (In Chinese)
  9. Liu, J., Chang, H. H., Forrest, J. Y. L., & Yang, B. H. (2020). Influence of artificial intelligence on technological innovation: Evidence from the panel data of China's manufacturing sectors. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 158, 120142.
  10. Ye, J. Y., Lin, J., Zhang, P. F., et al. (2019). The unique role of Chinese state-owned enterprises: From the perspective of knowledge spillover. Economic Research Journal, 54(6), 40–54. (In Chinese)
  11. Xue, L., Jiang, L. D., Huang, Y., et al. (2019). Resource heterogeneity, knowledge flow and industry-university-research collaborative innovation: A case study of the artificial intelligence industry. Studies in Science of Science, 37(12), 2241–2251. (In Chinese)
  12. Brem, A., Giones, F., & Werle, M. (2023). The AI digital revolution in innovation: A conceptual framework of artificial intelligence technologies for the management of innovation. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 70(2), 770–776.
  13. Zhang, S., & Zhou, Y. (2019). Construction of knowledge management model in artificial intelligence environment. Information Studies: Theory & Application, 42(10), 57–62. (In Chinese)
  14. Duan, Y. Q., Edwards, J. S., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2019). Artificial intelligence for decision making in the era of Big Data-Evolution, challenges and research agenda. International Journal of Information Management, 48, 63–71.
  15. Shi, B. (2020). Mechanism interpretation of artificial intelligence promoting high-quality economic development. Reform, (1), 30–38. (In Chinese)
  16. Hao, N. (2017). Labor employment polarization, skill premium and technological innovation. Economist, (8), 27–32. (In Chinese)
  17. Sun, Z., & Hou, Y. L. (2019). How industrial intelligence reshapes the employment structure of labor force. China Industrial Economics, (5), 63–81. (In Chinese)
  18. Acemoglu, D., & Restrepo, P. (2020). Robots and jobs: Evidence from US labor markets. Journal of Political Economy, 128(6), 2188–2244.
  19. Deng, Y., & Jiang, W. Y. (2022). Industrial robots, management capability and enterprise technological innovation. China Soft Science, (11), 129–141. (In Chinese)
  20. Ding, H. F., Zhang, R., & Zhou, R. B. (2023). Intelligent transformation of manufacturing enterprises and its innovation effect: From the perspective of enterprise life cycle theory. Industrial Economics Research, (2), 83–96. (In Chinese)
  21. Usai, A., Fiano, F., Messeni Petruzzelli, A., Paoloni, P., Briamonte, M. F., & Orlando, B. (2021). Unveiling the impact of the adoption of digital technologies on firms' innovation performance. Journal of Business Research, 133, 327–336.
  22. Li, C. M., Xu, Y., Zheng, H., & Wang, Z. X. (2023). Artificial intelligence, resource reallocation, and corporate innovation efficiency: Evidence from China's listed companies. Resources Policy, 81, 103324.
  23. Qi, Y. D., & Xiao, X. (2020). Transformation of enterprise management in the era of digital economy. Management World, 36(6), 135–152. (In Chinese)
  24. Zhang, X. W., & Liu, G. (2022). Research on the innovation mechanism of the integration of artificial intelligence and traditional industries: Based on the analysis of China's intelligent security industry innovation network. Studies in Science of Science, 40(6), 1105–1116. (In Chinese)
  25. Feng, L., Yuan, F., & Liu, X. Y. (2023). Industrial robots and firm innovation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms. China Economic Quarterly, 23(4), 1264–1282. (In Chinese)
  26. Zhang, L. P., & Zhang, S. Z. (2020). Technology empowerment: Technological innovation effect of the integration of artificial intelligence and industry development. Finance & Economics, (6), 74–88. (In Chinese)
  27. Liu, Z. Q., & Lu, C. Y. (2018). Impact of regional market heterogeneity and R&D investment on firm innovation performance. Science & Technology Progress and Policy, 35(12), 99–106. (In Chinese)
  28. He, F., & Liu, G. C. (2022). Digital media information dissemination and corporate technological innovation. Journal of Quantitative & Technological Economics, 39(12), 111–131. (In Chinese)
© 2026 eLibrary · Stand on the shoulders of giants