Research on data-driven analysis model for synergistic development of regional innovation capacity and higher education in the context of digital economy

In this paper, the higher education and regional innovation capacity of 31 provinces in China were measured by using the location entropy index for clustering. A coupling degree calculation model based on synergism - the model of minimizing the coupling degree of the coefficient of divergence - is constructed to explore the status of synergistic development of higher education and regional innovation capacity, and to provide a direction for the high-quality and sustainable development of regional innovation and higher education. The analysis shows that the number of regions with regional entropy value below 0.7 was 13 in 2006, and decreased to 5 in 2024, and the degree of bifurcation of higher education in China is gradually narrowing. The gap of regional innovation capacity is gradually widened in 2024, and the balanced and full development index is mainly distributed in the interval of 0~30. The degree of coupling and coordination between higher education and regional innovation capacity in 2014 is moderate dislocation recession grade, 2014-2020 is mild dislocation recession grade, and 2020 is basic coordinated development grade.