Can smart city policies foster digital innovation in the construction industry? Evidence from BIM-related patents in China
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 20 August 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The construction of smart cities holds the potential to drive digital innovation in the construction industry through various means, such as enhancing supply and demand. This study echoes the urgent need for the construction industry to overcome development challenges. Hence, it is necessary to study the extent and ways in which smart city policies promote digital innovation in the construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This study treats China’s smart city policies as quasi-natural experiments. Using a dataset of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2007 to 2021 and a difference-in-differences model, the study scrutinizes the impact of smart city policies on digital innovation within the construction industry.
Findings
The study reveals a substantial positive influence of smart city policies on digital innovation in the construction industry. In addition, the study explains these results by analysing supply-side and demand-side mechanisms. Moreover, the effect of smart city pilot policies on promoting digital innovation within the construction industry displays noteworthy heterogeneity across cities at different regional and political levels.
Originality/value
By exploring the impact and mechanisms of smart city policies on digital innovation in the construction industry, this research contributes to a more comprehensive and profound comprehension of the role of policies in facilitating the digital transformation of the construction sector. It is a valuable reference for policymakers and industry practitioners aiming to advance digital development.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study is funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2022YFB2602200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 72171177), and the Ministry of Education in China Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (No. 21YJAZH059).
Citation
Liu, Y., Heng, M., Hu, C., Zhang, H., Wang, Z. and Ma, G. (2024), "Can smart city policies foster digital innovation in the construction industry? Evidence from BIM-related patents in China", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-01-2024-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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