PurposeWith　ongoing　technological　advancements　and　profound　shifts　in　industrial　dynamics,　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　offers　significant　opportunities　for　transforming　and　developing　the　high-end　equipment　manufacturing　industry　(HEMI).　However,　there　is　limited　research　on　how　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　influences　intelligent　development　in　HEMI,　especially　concerning　the　in-depth　examination　of　key　characteristics　in　each　sub-industry.　This　paper　examines　HEMI　sub-industries　to　explore　the　relationship　between　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　and　intelligent　development.　It　also　identifies　how　different　sub-industries　emphasize　various　ecosystem　characteristic　elements.　The　ultimate　goal　is　to　provide　specific　theoretical　support　and　practical　policy　guidance　for　achieving　intelligent　development　in　each　sub-industry.Design/methodology/approachThis　study　employs　a　multi-layer　perceptron　(MLP)　model　to　analyze　feature　importance　and　evaluate　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem＇s　impact　on　intelligent　development　across　HEMI　sub-industries.　By　analyzing　data　from　181　enterprises　across　five　sub-industries　-　aerospace　equipment,　ocean　engineering　equipment,　satellite　manufacturing　and　applications,　rail　transit　equipment　and　intelligent　manufacturing　equipment　-　it　identifies　and　ranks　the　contributions　of　ecosystem　elements　to　intelligent　development.　The　findings　uncover　critical　trends　and　focal　points　within　the　ecosystem,　providing　nuanced　and　targeted　guidance　for　practical　implementation　in　each　sub-industry.FindingsThe　research　findings　indicate　that　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　positively　drives　intelligent　development　across　various　sub-industries.　However,　differences　exist　in　the　impact　of　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　on　the　intelligent　development　of　different　sub-industries.　Notably,　due　to　the　distinct　developmental　characteristics　inherent　to　each　sub-industry,　they　place　different　emphases　on　selecting　elements　in　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem.　These　observations　contribute　to　the　formulation　of　differentiated　development　strategies　and　provide　practical　development　pathways　for　a　comprehensive　understanding　of　the　influencing　mechanisms　in　each　industry.Originality/valueThis　paper　elucidates　the　specific　impacts　of　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　on　the　intelligent　development　of　HEMI　sub-industries.　Empirical　research　analyzes　the　selection　emphasis　on　characteristic　elements　within　the　digital　innovation　ecosystem　for　each　sub-industry,　addressing　gaps　in　detailed　studies.　By　employing　an　MLP　model　and　feature　heatmaps　through　deep　learning　methods,　this　study　offers　a　novel　theoretical　perspective　on　the　intelligent　development　of　enterprises　across　sub-industries.