Do the resources provided by innovation platforms actually meet firms’ needs?

Innovation platforms (IPs) provide external innovation resources to support firm innovation, yet whether these resources actually meet firms' needs remains unclear. This study investigates how IPs interact with firms' internal resources to influence innovation quality, examining whether they act as complements or substitutes. Using regression and case analysis of Chinese IC-listed firms from 2014 to 2023, we reveal diverse interaction mechanisms between different IP types and firms' internal resources. Basic research platforms complement firms' innovator resources, while industrial technology platforms show complementary effects with innovator, material, and environment resources. Conversely, enterprise innovation platforms substitute for firms' environment resources. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates these complementary effects are more pronounced for design and non-state-owned firms. Case analysis corroborates these findings and provides theoretical support for practice. Our findings offer valuable guidance for governments in categorising and managing IPs effectively, and for firms in strategically selecting appropriate platforms to optimise their innovation efforts.