Abstract: Existing research on the impact of open public data on digital technology innovation has largely relied on single-path analyses, resulting in a lack of an integrated theoretical framework and systematic validation of underlying mechanisms. Based on resource orchestration theory, this paper develops an analytical framework that elucidates how open public data facilitates urban digital technology innovation from both institutional and innovation agent perspectives. The results demonstrate that open public data significantly promotes digital technology innovation, a finding that remains robust across multiple tests. This innovation effect is mediated through two channels-business environment improvement and entrepreneurial activity stimulation-both of which show significant threshold effects. Moreover, the effect is heterogenous, being stronger in cities with greater technological and human capital endowments. This study provides new micro-level evidence on the mechanisms through which open public data enables urban digital technology innovation and offers a theoretical basis for designing differentiated policies.

Key words: open public data, digital technology innovation, entrepreneurial activity, business environment, resource orchestration theory