The traditional economic model that relies on resource endowment is gradually being watered down with the implementation of an innovation-driven strategy. Economic growth fueled by technological innovation is more competitive and sustainable. However, financial issues that stymie the development of technological innovation are common in innovation activities, such as insufficient financial support and information asymmetry caused by the inadequate development of traditional financial markets [1]. As a result, it is critical to improve financial support services to foster technological innovation [2,3].

Digital technology innovation in the financial sector has led to the emergence of digital inclusive finance [4], an emerging financial service model [5] and a key guarantee for the sustainable advancement of technological innovation [6]. It provides new financial services such as mobile payment, credit, insurance, and financing by utilizing the new generation of information digital technology [7], and frees financial businesses from the constraints of “people” and “physical departments”. In order to better match the target customer groups and improve the efficiency of capital allocation [8,9], it also broadens the scope and use-depth of finance, enhances user experience and access to finance [10], and removes barriers that traditional finance faces when supporting innovative activities.

From the standpoint of regional development, the various resource endowments in various regions will result in varying development levels, creating an unbalanced but closely connected spatial pattern. Friedmann [18] used the “core–periphery” theory to explain regional economic development’s spatial relevance. He believes that the different development speeds of different regions will lead to a widening gap and form a spatial pattern, with the faster-developing areas as the core and the slower-developing areas as the periphery. The two types of regions are closely related to each other: the core regions concentrate the important elements needed for development to achieve industrial clusters and have an impact on the peripheral regions through the trickle-down effect; the marginal regions rely on the core regions to make progress. In 1991, Krugman [19] further revealed that the main factor of the “core–periphery theory” is the endogenous comparative advantage of each region: the core region generally has more material and human capital, which drives the development of the peripheral areas via the radiation effect. In terms of the spatial relationship of the coupling coordination between digital finance and technological innovation, building a network in different regions to form a cross-regional collaborative innovation model can reduce potential risks [20], promote the digital flow of financial resources, and stimulate more innovative output [21]. On the one hand, the interaction and coupling of financial institutions and innovation departments within the region can raise the level of digital finance and technological innovation; on the other hand, the spatial connection and spillover effect caused by the movement of elements between regions can further couple and coordinate digital finance and technological innovation.

关于数字金融与技术创新的交互耦合关系的研究较少。邹欣悦和王旺[2]利用空间同步模型实证研究了数字金融与技术创新的相互作用。大多数学者选择采用耦合协调度（CCD）模型来衡量数字金融与技术创新之间的耦合协调发展关系;我国数字金融与科技创新耦合协调程度相对较低，但稳步上升，分布特征以东南高、西北低为特征[2,40,41]。吕江林[41]利用达古姆基尼系数、核密度估计和标准差椭圆研究了数字普惠金融与实体经济的协调发展水平。他们还得出结论，虽然总体水平仍然较低，但东部地区高于中西部地区，区域差异正在逐渐缩小。此外，一些学者利用CCD模型研究了其他耦合协调关系：数字经济与绿色技术创新的耦合协调[42];技术创新与绿色发展[43];旅游开发与资源环境承载力[44];数据要素与绿色发展[45];数字化与储能创新[46];等等。

学者普遍认为，数字金融在推动技术创新方面发挥着积极作用。然而，关于数字金融与技术创新关系的研究主要集中在数字金融对技术创新的单边影响上，而对技术创新对数字金融的影响研究较少。数字金融与科技创新的关系应具有互补性和相互依存性，研究二者协调发展有利于经济可持续性和经济动能转换。