Based on the panel data of 87 cities and states in six provinces in central China from 2011 to 2021, this paper integrates three-stage data envelopment analysis, global and local spatial autocorrelation methods to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and agglomeration pattern of the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation for each city, and explores its dynamic and static driving mechanisms. The results show that the degree of regional differences in efficiency of scientific and technological innovation has increased and that the spatial distribution has gradually changed from "strong in the north as a whole and weak in the south, but different in parts" to the core and periphery of provincial capitals. Spatial agglomeration has increased, and different innovation driving mechanisms have been formed. To improve the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation in this region it is an important way to provide better policies and scientific and technological support services for small, medium and micro enterprises.

scientific and technological innovation efficiency  /  spatial autocorrelation  /  geographical detector  /  driving mechanism  /  six central provinces