Abstract:Based on the fsQCA approach from a histological perspective, six elements at the innovation network level and knowledge flow level are integrated to explore the histological configurations and development paths that drive the effective improvement of regional innovation capabilities using 29 provinces and cities in mainland China as case samples. It is found that individual elements do not constitute a necessary condition for driving high regional innovation capacity, while high knowledge diffusion plays a more general role in explaining regional innovation driving principles; there are three types of driving groupings for high regional innovation capacity, namely, innovation network balanced under high knowledge flow, network link dominant under high knowledge flow and knowledge diffusion-network scale dominant; there are alternative relationships among the four elements of innovation networks in explaining regional innovation driving mechanisms; there are four groupings that generate non-high regional innovation capacity, and there is an asymmetric relationship between them and the groupings that generate high regional innovation capacity.