Although existing research has recognized that the modular design of innovation architecture has a significant impact on dual innovation synergy, scholars still have divergent views on its positive or negative impact, and the explanation of the mechanism is not sufficient. Therefore, from the perspective of knowledge management theory, this paper introduces internal and external learning balance and knowledge field activity as mediating variables, constructs a chain mediating model of “innovation architecture modularization–internal and external learning balance–knowledge field activity–dual innovation synergy”, and conducts empirical testing to reveal the impact effect and mechanism of innovation architecture modularization on dual innovation synergy.

Taking 340 sci-tech innovation enterprises （STIEs） as research objects, this paper finds that: First, innovation architecture modularization can effectively improve the dual innovation synergy of STIEs, and the conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. Second, innovation architecture modularization enhances the dual innovation synergy of STIEs by promoting internal and external learning balance and enhancing knowledge field activity. Third, innovation architecture modularization enhances knowledge field activity by promoting a balance between internal and external learning, thereby enhancing the dual innovation synergy of STIEs.

Based on the above findings, the following insights are drawn: First, innovation architecture modularization provides an effective path for STIEs to achieve dual innovation synergy. Second, on the basis of modular innovation architecture, STIEs need to pay equal attention and importance to internal and external learning, and promote each subunit to choose corresponding learning strategies based on their own needs. Third, STIEs should strengthen knowledge exchange within their innovation architecture, ensuring the effectiveness of knowledge exchange within and between subunits, and providing the necessary knowledge foundation for dual innovation synergy.

The main contributions of this paper are as follows: First, it brings innovation architecture into the research framework of enterprise dual innovation, and discusses the impact of innovation architecture modularization on the dual innovation synergy of STIEs, extending the theoretical boundary of innovation management research and promoting the development of innovation architecture research in the direction of in-depth context. Second, it explains the mechanism by which innovation architecture modularization affects dual innovation synergy from the perspective of knowledge management theory, deepening the theoretical understanding of innovation architecture modularization. Third, it establishes a logical bridge between innovation architecture modularization and dual innovation synergy through the balance of internal and external learning and knowledge field activity, which helps to open up the “black box” of the mechanism that innovation architecture affects dual innovation.