Abstract: new quality productive forces; industrial robot; cost reduction and efficiency improvement; market competition; innovation capability.

Key words: Under the new quality productive forces path, fully releasing the “technological dividend” of robot applications and promoting technological innovation and transformation of production modes have become key driving forces of economic development and social progress. Based on the productivity theory, the impact and inner mechanisms of robot applications on innovation capabilities under the new quality productive forces path are explored by using panel data from 3,594 A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2019. The study reveals: (1) Robot applications significantly enhance enterprises’ innovation capabilities, particularly augmenting exploitative innovation. (2) Under the new quality productive forces path, robot applications influence innovation capabilities through the mediating mechanisms of labor skill structure and market competition, total factor productivity positively moderates the effects of robot applications on innovation capabilities. (3) Innovation effects of robot applications under the new quality productive forces path exhibits heterogeneity. Robot applications enhance innovation capabilities of state-owned enterprises, and regions with high marketization levels demonstrate a significant innovation ecosystem for robotic applications. The research expands innovation mechanism of robot applications, providing reference for enhancing enterprises’ innovation capabilities