Digital-intelligent technologies, green ambidextrous innovation, and green transformation in manufacturing enterprises

This study investigates the relationships among digital-intelligent technologies, green ambidextrous innovation (comprising green exploratory innovation and green exploitative innovation), and the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises, using Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2014 to 2024 as the research sample. The findings show that digital-intelligent technologies significantly promote the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises; the promoting effect of digital-intelligent technologies on green transformation varies with the degree of green transformation; the promoting effect is more pronounced among firms in non-heavily polluting industries and among firms facing lower environmental regulatory intensity; green exploratory innovation plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between digital-intelligent technologies and the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises, and green exploitative innovation also plays a significant mediating role in that relationship. This study not only provides new empirical evidence for understanding the drivers of corporate green development in the digital-intelligent era, but also offers micro-level pathway insights for manufacturing enterprises to achieve sustainable development goals through digital-intelligent technologies.