Abstract:The evaluation of regional innovation environment (RIE) is an important policy tool to strengthen the construction of regional innovation system (RIS). At present, the research is academic rather than decision-making, and lacks the guidance of research methods of think tanks based on the complex social system. Based on the think tank double helix methodology raised by Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD), this work carries out a systematic and in-depth study on the evaluation of China's RIE and its index system in the new era on the basis of objective and scientific evaluation of relevant research and practice. Firstly, taking the data-informationintelligence-solution (DIIS) method as a main approach to in-depth summarize the evaluation of RIE, and analyze the grasp of the hierarchy of evaluation objects, the evolution dynamics of evaluation theory, and the structure of evaluation index framework in the existing research layer by layer from phenomenon to essence, so as to reveal the essential attribute of the evaluation of RIE as a policy tool, and explore the function of the evaluation as a means to guide the social cognition and development trend. Secondly, taking the mechanism-impact-policy-solution (MIPS) as the main method and taking steps from the past to the future, to discuss the scientization of the analysis idea of the evaluation index system of RIE, explain the evaluation mechanism through past cases, and the decisive role of the basic mechanism of regional innovation environment development on the construction of the evaluation index system, as well as the differences and commonality of the evaluation indexes in different regions; then, through the current case analysis of the impact mechanism, this study expounds the impact of different policy positioning, research methods, and regional factors on the evaluation index system and its effect; furthermore, it is proposed that the evaluation facing the future development should highlight the policy action mechanism and scientifically deal with the relationship between innovating stages and the instrumentality of evaluation. Finally, by using the think tank double helix methodology, a matrix cross fusion of DIIS and MIPS, this work studies and puts forward a systematic solution to improve the evaluation index system of RIE from process to result. The main conclusions are as follows. Firstly, a new analysis method for systematic analysis of evaluation indicators is summarized by using the think tank double helix methodology, which is called the "four-dimensional analysis method". Secondly, the think tank double helix methodology adheres to the "Three Orientations", which makes it easier to find and overcome the disadvantages of the single, empirical, scattered, academic, and static method of "from index to index" in the previous research. Thirdly, the think tank double helix methodology derives a systematic solution that is both theoretical and practical, and constructs the general requirements, basic principles, main characteristics, evaluation methods, and objectives of the organizational implementation stage of the regional innovation environment evaluation index system that is more suitable for China's developing stage now, in line with the direction of innovation strategy and policy needs. The study shows that the think tank double helix methodology do adhere to the systematic scientific method and provide a new paradigm of the research of think tanks on complex social systemic issues with clear thinking, rigorous logic, and clear guidance.