Abstract:The application of digital technologies is the core driving force for innovating traditional development and realizing a leap in productivity. The innovative development governance of the Yellow River Basin is a complex social system, involving economic, social, and ecological aspects. Its key driving force is the profound influence of digital technologies. Focused on how digital technologies empower the innovative development governance of the Yellow River Basin, the development process, problems, and challenges are analyzed at different stages, from the digital Yellow River to the digital twin Yellow River. It is found that the governance of the Yellow River Basin still requires enhancement in four aspects: building a digital innovation ecosystem, establishing a digital governance system, developing data infrastructure, and preventing data security risks. In order to address these challenges so as to promote the realization of the innovative development goals of the Yellow River Basin, four policy recommendations are proposed, namely, encouraging a scientific and technological innovation ecology, improving the agile digital governance system, strengthening the practical value and application of innovations, and enhancing the digital security barrier capacity.