Could technological innovation drive sustainable development in universities? Examining the moderating role of geopolitical risk

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of technological innovation (TI) in advancing sustainable development in universities (SDUs) against the backdrop of rising geopolitical risk (GPR). Design/methodology/approach Drawing on annual panel data from 2022 to 2024 covering 100 countries and regions, this study uses a two-way fixed effects model to examine the impact of TI on SDUs. Additionally, a moderation model is constructed to analyze the moderating role of GPR. Findings This study finds that TI exerts a positive impact on SDUs by enhancing their environmental, social and governance performance. This finding remains robust across a series of robustness tests. Further analysis reveals that GPR weakens this positive influence by disrupting supply chains, restricting international collaboration and diverting institutional resources. Heterogeneity analysis shows that TI significantly boosts SDUs in middle- and high-income economies, most notably in the former because of catch-up advantages and higher marginal returns, with no significant effect in the low-income group. Moreover, the positive effect of TI on SDUs is observed in regions with strong academic and talent foundations. Originality/value These findings provide valuable guidance for universities worldwide on harnessing TI to advance sustainable development amid a deteriorating geopolitical environment.