Digital-Real-Economy Integration for Sustainable Industrial Chain Resilience: Patent Citation Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms

Industrial chain resilience (ICR) is increasingly important for sustainable industrial development, yet firm-level evidence on how digital-real-economy integration (DRI) affects ICR remains limited. This study aims to examine the impact of DRI on ICR and its underlying mechanisms. We hypothesize that DRI enhances ICR directly and through technological innovation, human-capital upgrading, and improved total factor productivity (TFP). Using 16,188 firm-year observations of Chinese listed firms from 2013 to 2024, we construct a patent citation-based measure of DRI and a multidimensional ICR index. Fixed-effects regressions, instrumental variable tests, robustness checks, and mediation analyses show that DRI significantly improves ICR. The effect operates through broader technological knowledge, higher innovation efficiency and R&D investment, upgraded human capital, and increased TFP. Heterogeneity analyses further show stronger effects among firms with weaker financing constraints, regions with stronger intellectual property protection and more advanced digital infrastructure. These findings provide micro-level evidence that digital–real technological integration contributes to resilient and sustainable industrial development.