## 5 Conclusions and Policy Implications  
### Analysis Conclusion  
This article selects time series data of technological innovation and ecological environment development in coastal areas from 2010 to 2020 to construct a comprehensive  
Figure 5: Prediction of spatial-temporal evolution law of the coupling and coordinated development level of scientific and technological innovation and ecological environment development in China’s coastal regions in 2021–2025.  
evaluation system for technological innovation and ecological environment development. At the same time, the coupling coordination model was used to analyze the collaborative coupling relationship between technological innovation and sustainable environment development in coastal areas. Finally, the gray prediction model is used to explore further the dynamic relationship between the two in time and space. We conclude as follows:  
(1) The overall development level of technological and scientific advancement and ecosystem development in coastal areas exhibited a fluctuating and increasing pattern, with scientific and technological innovation generally lagging behind the development of the ecological environment. The development level of the two systems in coastal areas exhibited a positive and generally synchronized trend; nevertheless, the regional disparity continued to widen.  
(2) Based on the time analysis, the innovations in technology and science and ecological environment development in coastal areas have achieved a high level of coupled and coordinated development. The two systems have experienced an increase in their coupled and coordinated development. The coupling and coordinated advancement of scientific and technological innovation and environmental development in Jiangsu and Guangdong have achieved a high level of excellence, with Guangdong Province standing out in particular in terms of its coupling development. Despite maintaining a growth tendency, Hainan Province is currently in a stage of weakly connected development. Based on the spatial analysis, the distribution of the coupling coordination level between technological and scientific breakthroughs and ecological environment development in most coastal locations has a distinct spatial dislocation pattern, and the development tendency is further enhanced. It indicates that the progress of advances in science and technology and the state of the natural environment have passed the initial phase of adjustment and adaptation. Over time, the adverse effects of scientific and technological advancements and changes in national policies' supply-side structure gradually diminish and eventually evolve in a consistent and balanced manner in the long term. The need to improve the ecological environment is driving technological innovation enterprises to adapt and improve. These enterprises are embracing sustainable ecological concepts to extend their lifespan, create new value, and establish long-term development mechanisms. This will lead to a more prominent synergy between technological and scientific creativity and the development of the ecological environment in the future.  
(3) From a temporal standpoint, the forecast outcomes for the coupling coordination level of the two systems in the majority of coastal regions exhibit a consistent pattern of steady enhancement, maintaining the characteristics observed in the past. However, in the coming period, Hainan, Guangxi, and Liaoning will still be in the stage of dysfunctional development, indicating that new directions are needed in the development path. From the general point of view of spatial pattern distribution, it still presents the convex spatial pattern characteristics of \"high in the middle and low at both ends\".