Digital economy policy and corporate low-carbon innovation: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

•Advances in digitalization of economies furthers green development.•China's big data comprehensive pilot zones (BDCPZ) policy facilitates corporate low-carbon innovation.•We provide policy insights for the synergistic development of the digital economy.•BDCPZ had heterogeneous impacts based on the characteristics of enterprises. We explore whether advances in digitalization of economies further green development by studying the impact of big data policies on low-carbon innovation. Using the low-carbon innovation data of Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2019, we verify that China's big data comprehensive pilot zones (BDCPZ) policy facilitated corporate low-carbon innovation, especially for state-owned enterprises, low-technology firms, and firms with highly educated CEOs. Findings provide policy insights for the synergistic development of the digital economy and low-carbon innovation.