Entrepreneurial ability and technological innovation: Evidence from publicly listed companies in an emerging economy

•The Chinese concept of guanxi ability has significantly positive effects on technological innovation.•Social responsibility ability has significantly positive effects on technological innovation.•Strategic leadership ability has significantly positive effects on technological innovation.•Ownership moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial ability and technological innovation.

This study's purpose is to explore the moderating effect of ownership on the relationship between entrepreneurial ability and technological innovation. Using 788 publicly listed companies, we applied a multivariate regression analysis to explore this underlying relationship, and found that the Chinese concept of guanxi ability, social responsibility ability, and strategic leadership ability have significantly positive effects on technological innovation. Additionally, as the proportion of state-owned shares increases, guanxi, social responsibility, and strategic leadership abilities become more conducive to technological innovation. The underlying mechanisms of these abilities on technological innovation are discussed.