A Study on the Technological Efficiency of China’s Marine Industries in the Context of the Digital Ocean

The efficiency of marine technological innovation directly reflects the level of marine science and technology management, which is crucial for the development of regional marine science and technology. To boost marine science and technology development, this paper employs three-stage DEA to explore and compare the actual managerial efficiency of marine technological innovation in eleven Chinese provinces in 2012 and 2021. By eliminating environmental factors and statistical noise through the three-stage DEA model, the study shows that this method can better reflect marine technological innovation efficiency than the conventional DEA model. Currently, China’s marine technological innovation efficiency remains low, and significant disparities exist among provinces. This implies that, on one hand, the Chinese government should intensify the reform of the marine science and technology management system to foster a more conducive environment for marine technological innovation. On the other hand, given the varying innovation efficiencies across provinces, each should formulate tailored policies and measures. By taking a holistic-to-local approach, the aim is to enhance China’s overall marine technological innovation efficiency, thereby accelerating the development of the marine industry.