How does venture capital play a role in corporate green innovation? Evidence from China

This research underscores the critical role of green innovation in advancing corporate sustain- ability and green transformation. Analyzing 9048 panel data points from China between 2010 and 2021, we applied a series of fixed effect models to assess how venture capital (VC) influences corporate green innovation. The study examined the effect of VC on two key business aspects: the costs of debt financing and the propensity for corporate risk-taking. The findings confirm that venture capital is essential in promoting corporate green innovation by lowering debt-related financial burdens and diminishing firms' inclination to take risks. Additionally, our heterogeneity analysis indicates that venture capital's impact is more pronounced within eastern China and among state-owned enterprises, suggesting regional and ownership-based variations in green innovation dynamics.