The impact of university-industry collaboration on corporate sustainability performance of Chinese SMEs: non-technological innovation as a mediator

Given the growing importance of sustainable practices and the increasing trend of collaborative innovation, this research explores the dynamics of university-industry collaboration (UIC), non-technological innovations, and corporate sustainability performance (CSP) in Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It aims to investigate the impact of UIC on CSP across economic, environmental and social dimensions, focusing on the mediating role of non-technological innovations including marketing and organizational innovation. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected from 500 participants across 100 Chinese SMEs through a questionnaire survey. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyzed the data, revealing that UIC significantly enhances CSP across all dimensions. Formal UIC primarily improves economic and social sustainability performance, while informal UIC has a greater impact on environmental sustainability performance.