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392Key core technologies often require the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge systems. Therefore, complex technologies characterized by high complexity and an interdisciplinary nature have become the core for China to secure breakthroughs in critical core technologies. Nevertheless, the research and development of complex technologies are constrained by high technical barriers, massive capital input, and substantial innovation risks. Faced with such challenges, enterprises tend to opt for simple and low-end technologies with low entry thresholds, and are reluctant to engage in high-quality R&D of complex technologies. In the digital era marked by the vigorous development of big data, exploring how data elements affect enterprise technological complexity holds important practical significance.
Using data on Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2023, this paper examines the impact of data elements on enterprise technological complexity. The empirical results show that data elements improve enterprise technological complexity. Data elements can promote open innovation, alleviate financing constraints, and reduce uncertainty in enterprise innovation, thereby affecting the enterprise technological complexity. Self-used data elements have a more pronounced effect on enterprise technological complexity than transactional data elements. The data element market can unlock the value of transactional data elements—the more developed the data element market, the greater the impact of transactional data elements on enterprise technological complexity. Moreover, innovation foundation, external pressure, and institutional guarantees are critical conditions under which data elements improve enterprise technological complexity. Data elements can only enhance enterprise technological complexity when enterprises possess substantial patent stocks, operate in highly competitive industries, and are located in regions with strong IP protection. Without these conditions, data elements may lead enterprises to pursue low-quality innovation quantity growth.
This paper offers the following marginal contributions: First, it explores the impact of data elements on enterprise technological complexity, enriching the literature on data elements and enterprise innovation. Second, from the perspective of the data element market, it reveals the conditions under which transactional data elements enhance enterprise technological complexity. Third, it identifies the boundary conditions of how data elements promote technological complexity from three dimensions: innovation foundation, external pressure, and institutional guarantees, providing practical implications for enterprises and governments to fully release the value of data elements and upgrade technological complexity.
