Abstract:    In the digital economy era, the question arises whether digital intelligence policy, exemplified by the ‘Broadband China’ strategy and national smart city pilots, can synergize to effectively drive digital technology innovation. Based on the panel data from 282 prefecture-level cities in China spanning from 2011 to 2021, this study employed a double machine learning model to assess the multidimensional policy effects of digital intelligence policy on digital technology innovation. The results showed that: (1) Digital intelligence policy exhibit a significant synergistic effect on digital technology innovation, with the ‘double pilot’ policy showing a more pronounced empowerment effect compared to the ‘single pilot’ policy. These findings held true even after conducting a series of robustness checks and addressing endogeneity concerns; (2) Digital intelligence policy not only contribute directly to the dual-drive of digital technology innovation but also support it indirectly through enhancing entrepreneurial activity and agglomeration, strengthening intellectual property legislation and enforcement, and fostering both hard and soft infrastructure of the digital ecosystem; (3) The effectiveness of the synergistic empowerment from digital intelligence policy is closely linked to geographical location and urban characteristics. On the one hand, central cities, southern region and eastern regions of the Hu Huanyong Line can obtain more dividends of digital technology innovation from these synergistic policies. On the other hand, cities with a higher endowment of digital talent, greater government investment in science and technology, and higher levels of digital access exhibit a more pronounced effect of these policies. This research will provide vital insights for local governments to strengthen the coordination of multidimensional policies, explore deeply the synergistic empowerment of policy planning, and accelerate the construction of Digital China.

Key words: digital intelligence policy, double pilot, synergistic empowerment, digital technology innovation