加速数字技术创新是推动数字经济高质量发展的必然要求。通过以国家统计局发布的《数字经济及其核心产业统计分类(2021)》为标准匹配出数字经济核心产业的专利数据,本文测算了1994—2020年中国数字经济核心产业专利活动规模并对其时空演变和创新主体的特征进行了分析。结果显示:第一,中国数字经济核心产业专利申请数量总体呈现持续增长的趋势,其中数字产品制造业专利申请数量最多,但近年来专利申请增长率和专利授权比率有所下降。第二,数字经济核心产业专利申请存在明显的区域间差异,东部地区、中部地区和西部地区专利申请数量依次递减。京津冀、长三角和珠三角城市群在数字专利活动上的互相追赶效应明显。第三,数字技术创新主体主要集中在科技型制造企业和互联网企业,数字技术创新领域的发明人数量和发明人团队规模均显著上升。

The technological and industrial transformations in China have played a significant role in advancing the development of the digital economy. In order to further improve the quality of digital economy development, it is vital to prioritize digital innovation and strengthen key technological capabilities. However, there is a dearth of literature that examines the digital economy development from an innovation perspective, particularly in the context of China's digital technology innovation. This lack of research creates difficulties in fully understanding the latest trends, advantages, and drawbacks of China's digital technology innovation.    This study utilizes the IncoPat global patent database, as well as the Statistical Classification of Digital Economy and Its Core Industries (2021) and Reference Table of International Patent Classification and National Economic Industry Classification (2018) to identify the patent data of the core industries of the digital economy in China. Drawing on Huang et al. (2023) and Tao et al. (2023), this study then calculates the scale of patent activities in the core industries of the digital economy in China from 1994 to 2020 and analyzes its temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and applicant characteristics. The results show that: 1) patent applications in China's core industries of the digital economy have generally increased over time, though growth rates and authorization rates have declined in recent years. 2) Digital product manufacturing leads in the number of patent applications. Additionally, there are notable regional differences in patent applications for the core industries of the digital economy, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta urban agglomerations catching up to each other in digital patent activities. 3) Finally, the subjects of digital technology innovation are primarily technology-based manufacturing companies and Internet companies, with both inventor numbers and team sizes increasing significantly.    This paper expands upon previous literature in two significant ways. Firstly, it delves into the characteristics and facts pertaining to patent activities in China's digital economy core industries, examining them from both a temporal and spatial perspective. Secondly, by exploring the behavioral characteristics of patent activities in these core industries, with a focus on innovation subjects, this paper can help to determine the innovation orientation and effectiveness of digital technology development.    This paper presents insightful findings on the innovation activities in China's digital economy, highlighting key challenges and opportunities. These insights can inform government policy-making and facilitate the effective implementation of digital technology innovation. Moreover, by leveraging the new wave of scientific and technological revolution and promoting the quality transformation of economic development, China can achieve high-quality growth in the digital economy.