Enhancing the effectiveness of multi-agent cooperation for green manufacturing: Dynamic co-evolution mechanism of a green technology innovation system based on the innovation value chain

Abstract A virtuous cycle of the green technology innovation (GTI) system (GTIS) can not only effectively serve GTI subjects in the system but also fully improve green manufacturing and reduce environmental pollution. The essence of the GTIS evolution of manufacturing enterprises (MEs) under multi-agent cooperation (MEUMAC) is encouraged by governments and led by MEs, which jointly promote the process of GTIS from low-end to high-end through interaction with universities, research institutions, supply chains, intermediaries and consumers. MEs cooperate with multiple GTI subjects to continuously improve the GTI level of MEUMAC, and the subsystems of the GTIS interact and coordinate dynamically. To promote the upgrade of the GTIS under multi-agent cooperation, the dynamic co-evolution mechanism of the GTIS needs to be explored. Innovation process is a value chain that transforms from knowledge creation to product promotion based on the innovation value chain. Based on system theory, this process can be solved through five parts: input, processing, output, feedback and upgrade. The structure and evolution path of the GTIS were analysed based on the innovation value chain theory and system theory. Logistic symbiotic response system is a typical system with self-organization characteristics, and the development law of the GTIS of MEUMAC is similar with the symbiotic system. Hence, an evolution model based on a Logistic model was constructed to determine state and control variables. The results show that the evolution of the GTIS of MEUMAC is the spatial advancement and temporal evolution of the system under the action of internal and external subjects, which is ultimately manifested as the process of the GTI performance output. The operation status of green technology is a key factor in the dynamic co-evolution of the GTIS of MEUMAC, which is the order parameter of the system. Environmental regulation policies (ERPs) have a strong positive incentive effect on the dynamic co-evolution of the GTIS of MEUMAC. Regarding the current ERPs, the effect intensity of different policies is command regulation, market regulation, public participation regulation and voluntary action regulation. The results of this study not only help MEs to optimize the implementation process of the GTIS and provide practical guidance to formulate ERPs but also extend the theoretical system of co-evolution and enrich the innovation value chain theory.