Spatiotemporal Evolution, Regional Correlation, and Sustainable Innovation Entity Quality Structure of Digital Technology Patents in China

Against the backdrop of China’s rapid digital economy growth and the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, this study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution, regional correlation, and innovation entity quality structure of digital technology patents in China. Using patent data (1994–2025) from the incoPat database, this study employs descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression to examine patent application trends, provincial distribution patterns, and the characteristics of major patent assignees. The results reveal that China’s digital technology patent applications have experienced explosive growth since 2016, establishing global leadership in quantity, yet exhibit a structural pattern of “quantity leading, quality lagging” with limited high-value patents. Spatially, patents are highly concentrated in eastern coastal provinces, forming a “strong east, weak west” pattern. Correlation and regression analyses show a robust positive association between patent counts and provincial GDP, while population size also exhibits a significant positive effect, albeit with slightly lower explanatory power. Among the top ten global patent holders, six are Chinese enterprises concentrated in Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Beijing, but their share of high-value patents remains limited compared to international counterparts. These findings indicate a dual agglomeration effect, which may pose challenges to achieving balanced regional development.