Green ambidextrous innovation and firms’ internationalisation speed: the moderating role of foreign ownership

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of green ambidextrous innovation on firms’ internationalisation speed and the boundary conditions of these effects. Design/methodology/approach Using panel data on Chinese A-share listed companies from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2007 to 2022, they test the proposed hypotheses empirically. Findings The results reveal that green exploratory innovation is positively associated with firms’ internationalisation speed; whereas green exploitative innovation exhibits a nonlinear U-shaped relationship with internationalisation speed. Moreover, foreign ownership moderates these relationships in different ways: a higher level of foreign ownership strengthens the positive effect of green exploratory innovation on internationalisation speed, while weakening the U-shaped effect of green exploitative innovation. Originality/value This study advances understanding of how green ambidextrous innovation shapes firms’ internationalisation speed by differentiating the effects of green exploratory and exploitative innovation. It enriches the literature on green innovation and internationalisation speed and offers practical insights for managers on aligning green innovation strategies with international expansion.