How the “Absorption Processes” of Urban Innovation Contribute to Sustainable Development—A Fussy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on Seventy-Two Cities in China

The goals and transformation of sustainable urban development require fundamental innovation; however, innovation is a cyclical process, the paradigm itself needs to be dramatically transformed, all key elements need coordinated with each other achieve outputs. Based on this, this paper uses absorptive capacity theory construct model relationships between acquisition dimension, digestion conversion utilization in process smart cities fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (FSQCA) method investigate configuration mechanism depth show how these affects their development, taking top 72 China terms 2020 as research objects. results study form three complex paths that affect centered technological achievements, management drive, cities, reveal economic market foundations dimensions are not core conditions for development. develops classification innovative can i.e., industrial paths, governance technology proposes strategic directions