Spatiotemporal heterogeneity and sources of electricity technology innovation in China

[Objective] Electric technology innovation is the key to promote energy technology revolution. This study aimed to clarify the strategic orientation of the electric technology innovation in China and examine its spatiotemporal pattern and sources, to provide a scientific evidence for accelerating China’s electric technology innovation. [Methods] Based on the statistical data of H02 patents, this study evaluated the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of China’s electric technology innovation by constructing an absolute index, a relative index, and structural specialization coefficient. It analyzed the sources of the spatial differentiation of electric technology innovation from two dimensions of space and patent structure by using the Dagum Gini index and variance decomposition. [Results] The results show that: (1) The level of electric technology innovation showed an upward trend, and it decreased from the east to the west. The innovation capacity was mainly concentrated in the shape, structure, and application of electric products. (2) The spatial differentiation degree of the invention patent specialization coefficient was larger than that of the utility model patent, and the number of regions belonging to the utility model patent specialization category was more than that of the invention patent specialization category. (3) Compared with intraregional variation and superimposed over density, the interregional variation had a greater driving effect on the spatial differentiation of electric technology innovation. The utility model patents had a stronger driving effect on the spatial differentiation of electric technology innovation, while invention patents had the opposite effect. [Conclusion] This study contributes to coordinate the balanced development of regional electric technology innovation and explore the effective ways to improve the level of electric technology innovation.