Inclusive Innovation Spaces in Changsha: Spatial Distribution, Agglomeration Characteristics, and Driving Factors

Against the backdrop of China’s urban modernization pathway, the core value of urban innovation systems is increasingly shifting toward an inclusive orientation. Grounded in the theoretical connotation of inclusive urban innovation, this study establishes an evaluation index system covering equal participation opportunities, procedural fairness, and outcome sharing, and applies the entropy method, kernel density analysis, and spatial autocorrelation to empirically examine the spatial distribution characteristics and formation mechanisms of inclusive innovation spaces in Changsha. The results show that (1) Changsha’s inclusive innovation level presents a gradient decline from the central urban area to the periphery; (2) high–high clusters mainly in areas with stronger innovation–resource concentration and better public service conditions, such as Yuelu District and other districts associated with major innovation platforms. Low–low agglomeration zones cluster in peripheral urban areas like certain townships in Liuyang City and remote regions of Ningxiang City; (3) the spatial differentiation of inclusive innovation is jointly shaped by multiple factors, among which Cultural Education and Industrial Structure show relatively stronger explanatory power; and (4) improving inclusive innovation requires enhancing not only innovation agglomeration, but also public service accessibility, talent support, employment inclusion, and the local sharing of innovation outcomes. This study provides a systematic framework for evaluating urban inclusive innovation space and offers policy insights for promoting balanced and inclusive innovation development in regional innovation cities.