How does ego-network size affect firms' sustainable innovation: The moderating roles of digital level and entrepreneurial activity

Firms' sustainable innovation (FSI) plays an importing role in China's high-tech manufacturing sector, which raises scholar's attention to investigate the building of cross-level alliance innovation networks among manufacturing firms and how it affects FSI. Based on data on high-tech manufacturing industry alliance innovation networks (micro), and relevant data of 31 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions in China (medium) over 2011–2019, we explore how ego-network size affects FSI, and analyze the moderating roles of digital level and entrepreneurial activity in the relationship between ego-network size and FSI. Our findings provide insightful guidance supported with theoretical underpinning and empirical evidence for high-tech manufacturing firms to plan and adjust their ego-network sizes rationally, and for provincial governments to use digital level and entrepreneurial activity effectively to enhance FSI.