Spatial Heterogeneity and Influencing Mechanisms of Strategic Emerging Industry in the Yangtze River Delta region

Amid global innovation competition and China's economic transition, advancing Strategic Emerging Industries (SEIs) is crucial for driving industrial upgrading and sustaining economic growth. Utilizing data from 909 listed companies and applying spatial statistics and the Geodetector method, this study analyzes the spatial pattern and driving factors of SEIs in the Yangtze River Delta region. The findings reveal that: (1) SEIs exhibit significant agglomeration, forming a spatial hierarchical pattern characterized as "one core, one axis, two wings, and multiple points; (2) "Openness, domestic demand, innovation" system — operating through mechanisms of dynamic balancing, positive feedback, and risk mitigation— is strongly associated with the observed distribution of SEIs; (3) Spatial heterogeneity prevails across provinces and industries, yet the interactive effects among these three factors demonstrate universality. Accordingly, the findings suggest several possible policy implications, including: furthering institutional openness through coordinated Pilot Free Trade Zones and cross-border innovation cooperation; stimulating domestic demand via interregional consumer credit and green procurement policies; and fostering innovation-industrial chain integration through cross-regional intellectual property sharing platforms. The proposed "openness, domestic demand, innovation" system offers a useful analytical perspective and suggests avenues for policy discussion and comparative research for optimizing SEI distribution and fostering innovation-led regional development within urban agglomerations of transitioning economies.