Exploring the systematic coupling coordination degrees of innovation activities in China's high-tech industry

The high-tech industry plays an important role in promoting the upgrading of industrial structures. Its innovation activities show an obvious two-system structure. To promote co-development and improve industrial competitiveness, it is essential to examine the efficiency and measure the coupling coordination degree between two systems. With this regard, we first measure the relative efficiency using nonparametric technologies under different specifications of each system. Second, the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree between two systems have been calculated. Finally, comparative analyses of efficiency and coupling coordination degrees have been analysed from the perspective of the regional high-tech industry. Empirical results indicate the low overall technical efficiency in the regional high-tech industry is caused by low-scale efficiency under nonconvex. However, it is caused by low pure technical efficiency under convex. Moreover, the average efficiency of technology development in regional high-tech industry is higher than that of technology transformation for convex and nonconvex cases. Furthermore, the degree of coupling coordination of the two systems of the high-tech industry in all regions is moderate and above coordination. The empirical results can provide useful suggestions for policymakers to create an environment conducive to industrial development.