Abstract:      Although the central and local government departments have repeatedly emphasized the need to further the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels", optimize the innovation environment and stimulate the enthusiasm of enterprises for innovation, the academia lacks systematic research on this view at the theoretical level. In order to promote the innovation development of science and technology micro- and small-enterprises, the scientific question that needs to be considered and verified is: does the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels" enhance the innovation willingness of technology micro- and small-enterprises? How does the reform enhance the willingness to innovate of technology micro- and small-enterprises? The in-depth discussion of these questions can help the government deepening the reform and promote the innovation development of technology micro- and small-enterprises.Based on the existing theories and literature, we construct a model of the relationship between the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels", innovation environment and innovative intention of enterprises to examine the mechanism of influence of the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels" on the innovative intention of technology micro- and small-enterprises. In this study, 399 valid questionnaires were collected from Chinese technology micro- and small-enterprises, and the questionnaire distribution method and the reliability and validity of the variables were tested to be acceptable for subsequent analysis. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed：(1) The two dimensions of the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels" (reducing red tape and giving autonomy to enterprises) and their interaction terms both positively affect the innovation environment and innovation willingness, and the effect of "decentralization" is stronger. (2) Innovation environment partially mediates the relationship between the two dimensions of the "streamline administration and delegate power" and willingness to innovate, and the mediating effect of innovation environment is stronger between the reduction of red tape and willingness to innovate. (3) There is a significant regional effect on the effect of decentralization on willingness to innovate, i.e., the effect of decentralization is generally more significant in traditional administrative regions, while the positive effect of innovation environment on the willingness to innovate of technology micro- and small-enterprises is stronger in emerging development zones. (4) Among the measures of the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels", "decentralization" measures, such as expanding enterprises′ production and operation power, relaxing market access conditions, and strengthening enterprises′ market responsibilities, are more effective in creating a good innovation environment and enhancing innovation intentions, and the various "decentralization" measures compared with "streamline administration" and "decentralization" can optimize the innovation environment and enhance the willingness to innovate of small and medium-sized enterprises in science and technology.Based on the above research, the practical implications of this study include: (1) The direct and interactive effects of the reform of "streamline administration and delegating power to lower levels" show that the "reduction" and "slimming" of non-technology government departments is also a booster to promote innovation-driven development strategy and enterprise innovation. The implementation of the decentralization of government should not only play the "simplification" and "decentralization" of their respective effectiveness, but also to play a good "combination" of the two, to give full effect to "streamline administration" and "decentralization" synergy. (2) The intermediary effect of innovation environment shows that government departments should deepen the decentralization and simplification of government to create a good innovation environment for science and technology micro- and small-enterprises, and then improve the innovation enthusiasm of science and technology micro- and small-enterprises. (3) The regional effect of decentralization suggests that the government should adopt targeted measures according to the characteristics and needs of different types of enterprises, and avoid a "one-size-fits-all" policy. (4) The decomposition effect of "Streamline administration and delegate power" shows that since "decentralization" can create a more innovative environment and enhance enterprises′ willingness to innovate. Then, government departments should effectively increase "decentralization" efforts, optimize the list of powers and responsibilities, relax market access restrictions, provide a more free and fair innovation environment for enterprise innovation, and stimulate the innovation enthusiasm of small and medium-sized enterprises in science and technology.

Key words: streamlining administration and delegating power to lower levels, innovation environment, enterprise innovative willingness, S&T micro- and small-enterprise