Research on heterogeneity of Chinese regional technological innovation efficiency based on meta-frontier and grey system theory

This study explores the technological innovation efficiency of three regions in China with meta-frontier in consideration of regional heterogeneity. The results reveal that the overall technological innovation efficiency is low in China, which has much space to improve. In addition, three regions under group frontier and meta-frontier present different development patterns based on different technology sets. The technological innovation inputs and outputs are forecasted by GM(1,1) model and the innovation meta-technology ratio is calculated with forecasted values. The gaps between innovation meta-technology ratio of the three regions tend to decrease. The regions lagging behind have significant late-developing advantages and are catching up with the advanced ones, but the speed of convergence is slow.