From AI-enabled materials informatics to sustainable innovation in Asian global value chains: the bridging role of inter-organisational collaboration

Abstract

The twin transition of digitalisation and sustainability requires manufacturers in Asian global value chains (GVCs) to convert internal artificial intelligence (AI) capability into outcomes that depend on cross-boundary coordination. Drawing on the Dynamic Capabilities View and GVC governance research, this study examines how AI-enabled materials informatics (MI) capability relates to sustainable innovation performance (SIP) through inter-organisational collaboration. Survey data from 205 senior technology executives in Taiwan's high-technology manufacturing sector were analysed using a complementary quantitative dual-analytic strategy combining PLS-SEM and fsQCA. PLS-SEM shows positive associations between AI-enabled MI capability and collaboration capability (β = 0.612, p < .001), collaboration capability and SIP (β = 0.485, p < .001) and AI-enabled MI capability and SIP (β = 0.215, p = .002). The specific indirect association is significant (β = 0.297, p < .001), and sensitivity analysis excluding SIP_2 yields materially unchanged results. fsQCA identifies three sufficient configurations for high SIP, including an Eco-Collaborative pathway combining weak internal AI capability with strong data-governance and regulatory-sensing practices. The findings highlight complementary net-association and configurational perspectives on sustainable innovation.