Abstract: Regional innovation is a core driver of national economic development and technological self-reliance. However, weak linkages between R&D and technology commercialization still constrain overall innovation performance. From a complex economics perspective, this study constructs a systemic and structural framework of the digital ecosystem, distinguishing digital infrastructure, digital capabilities, and digital applications. Using a two-stage DEA and a two-step fsQCA, we conduct a configurational analysis of digital ecosystems and regional innovation efficiency across 30 Chinese provinces (Excluding the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions of China; Xizang is not included in the statistics due to incomplete data). The findings show that: (1) no single digital ecosystem element is a necessary condition for improving innovation efficiency, but efficiency-enhancing supersets do exist; (2) coordination between digital government and digital society is key to R&D efficiency, while digital government plays a core role in technology commercialization efficiency; (3) shifts in digital application focus and the deepening role of digital government are the two main mechanisms linking R&D and commercialization; (4) innovation efficiency improvement follows a logic of demand-driven restructuring and institution-enabled commercialization. This study enriches the understanding of the relationship between digital ecosystems and innovation efficiency from a systemic and structural perspective and provides references for regionally differentiated digital ecosystem development.

Key words: digital ecology, regional innovation efficiency, two-step qualitative comparative analysis, complex economics