Abstract:    The traditional innovation theory has been challenged by the digital enabling of technological innovation. This is mainly manifested in the following areas. (1) The basic assumptions of technological innovation management have been changed by the interaction between the results and process of innovation. (2) The boundaries of innovation activity have been broken by digital innovation platform. (3) The expansibility of old technology has been enhanced by digital technology. However, current literatures have not gone further than the discussion or induction of the digital technology′s influence on business operations. There has been no in-depth study on the complex mechanism of enterprises′ innovation activities enabled by digital technology. The digital enabling of technological innovation carries important implications for the innovation-driven development pattern of manufacturing enterprises in China. 
    Hence, to enrich the digital innovation theory, this paper explores the "black box" of digital enabling of technological innovation in manufacturing enterprises. It is difficult to put forward hypotheses and conduct empirical research, since existing literatures have not yet proposed the theoretical framework of digital enabling of technology innovation. Therefore, this paper conducts exploratory research through case study method and using coding technique of grounded theory in data processing. Three manufacturing enterprises are taken as research samples: Changan automobile, Midea Group and Suofeiya Home. 
    Based on the research above, the following conclusions are obtained. (1) The connotation of digital enabling of technological innovation in manufacturing enterprises is defined in three dimensions: the enabling of the subject, process and product of technological innovation. (2) The model of digital enabling of technological innovation in manufacturing enterprises is proposed. Intelligent transformation of enterprises lays the foundation for digital innovation, and provides the hardware and software base for digital innovation and innovation knowledge sharing. And the enterprises are embedded in the collaborative innovation among the value co-creation network. After that the digitalization of products and services, and the high-quality development are realized. (3) Three paths of technological innovation enabled by digital technology in Chinese manufacturing enterprises and their selective mechanism are concluded. The three paths are the collaborative innovation path of industrial chain centered on technology integration, the open innovation path centered on product intelligence, and the consumer-oriented innovation path at both ends. Moreover, technical level of industry, degree of industrial modularization and characteristics of market competition are three factors that influence the choice of innovation paths. 
    The conclusions of this paper reveal the following implications for manufacturing enterprises in technological innovation enabled by digital technology. (1) In high-tech industry with high degree of modularization, enterprises should choose the first path. (2) In industry where product intelligent is becoming an important trend, enterprises should choose the second path. (3) In industry with personalized market demand and homogeneous product, enterprises should choose the third path. 
   Finally, there are still some limitations in this research. (1) The coding method of grounded theory itself contains some shortcomings. For instance, coders′ subjective cognition cannot be eliminated totally. (2) Although three samples are adopted and the theoretical saturation are reached, the external reliability of this research should be further examined.

Key words: digital technology empowerment, manufacturing enterprise, technological innovation path