Abstract We consider the characteristics of innovation paradigm in the context of weak innovation foundation and the uneven distribution of innovation resources in China, and empirically test the complex relationship among R&D, non-R&D and innovation performance under the influence of regional innovation level based on a panel data of China’s high-tech industries in 30 provinces during 2005-2014, then reveal the nonlinear mechanism of R&D and non-R&D by using panel threshold regression model of Hansen. The result shows that R&D has a significant positive effect on innovation performance in all regions, while there are some negative effects on the innovation performance of non-R&D. Among them, when the threshold level of regional innovation is lower, the positive effect of R&D is relatively smaller, while the negative effect of non-R&D is relatively bigger, and with the threshold level of regional innovation rising, R&D is more positive for innovation performance, and the negative impact of non-R&D on innovation performance becomes smaller.
