Coupling Coordination between Marine S&T Innovation and the High-Quality Development of the Marine Economy: A Case Study of China’s Coastal Provinces

Abstract

Promoting coupling coordination between marine scientific and technological (S&T) innovation and the high-quality development of the marine economy is an important measure to realizing sustainable marine development. Based on the complex adaptive systems theory, sustainable development theory and regional coordinated development theory, this study analyzed the coupling coordination and its influencing factors between marine S&T innovation and the high-quality development of the marine economy with China’s coastal provinces as study areas. The result showed that: (1) The coupling coordination fluctuated upward, changing from on the verge of dissonance to well-coordinated. (2) There was an agglomeration of high-level coupling coordination in central and eastern coastal provinces while the polarization between high-level and low-level coupling coordination was significant. (3) The improvement of coupling coordination mainly depended on the consumption expansion demand, multidimensional spatial integrated development, and industrial improvement demand. Regional heterogeneity of influencing factors existed in southern and northern coastal regions. (4) To improve coupling coordination, we should establish a demand-oriented mechanism for coordinated development between marine S&T innovation and the marine economy, and strengthen the multi-dimensional spatial planning and the guidance and guarantee functions of coastal governments, in particular to introduce and implement policies that suit local conditions. This research may supplement and improve the theoretical discussion and practical experience concerning sustainable marine development.