Digitalization, new business Startups, information and Communication Technologies and product innovation: Evidence From China in the lens of sustainability.

This article examines the role of digitalization and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in driving product innovation (PIN) within China's economy from 1990 to 2020, emphasizing implications for sustainable business and economic growth. Using advanced econometric methods—including quantile regression and cointegration tests—the study finds that while economic growth and financial development generally promote product innovation, medium- and high-tech industries and ICT have a negative effect on product innovation unless supported by financial development, which reverses this impact positively. New business registrations show a negative association with product innovation. The findings suggest that increased investment in technological industries and supportive financial systems are crucial for fostering product innovation in China, with policy recommendations focusing on enhancing digital infrastructure, green innovation, and efficient resource allocation to achieve sustainable economic and environmental outcomes.