The double world-class policy and urban innovation capability in China: a spatial difference-in-differences approach

Supporting high-quality economic development constitutes a critical objective and fundamental criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of China’s world-class universities and world-class disciplines initiative (hereafter referred to as the ‘Double World-Class’ policy). This study is the first to employ a spatial difference-in-differences model to quantitatively examine the impact of the Double World-Class policy on urban innovation capacity in China and its underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the Double World-Class policy significantly improves the innovation capacity of both local and neighbouring cities, with a spatial attenuation boundary of 350 km. Further analysis indicates that S&T talent mobility and R&D cooperation exert positive moderating effects, amplifying the policy’s contribution to urban innovation capacity in local and neighbouring cities. Moreover, the promotional effect of the Double World-Class policy on urban innovation capacity is more pronounced in eastern China.