How can regional innovation ecosystems attain and maintain stable operation? - an investigation utilising NCA and fsQCA

This study uses the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) on socio-technical transitions to develop a theoretical model for analyzing the stable operation of regional innovation ecosystems. Focusing on 30 provinces in China, it employs Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to systematically examine the configuration paths driving their stability. First, the findings reveal that innovation actors, resources, driving policies, industrial regulations, infrastructures, and the innovation environment are not individually necessary for stability. However, infrastructure is identified as a critical core condition. The study highlights a complex causal relationship and synergistic interplay among the six antecedent conditions. Second, the research identifies two paths to highly stable operation in regional innovation ecosystems: the ‘Innovation Actor + Infrastructure’ path and the ‘Infrastructure’ path. Finally, the results show that configurations for highly and non-highly stable operations exhibit causal asymmetry, indicating ‘different paths to the same destination.’ This study deepens theoretical insights into regional innovation ecosystems and offers actionable strategies for their stable operation.