Industrial　green　development　(IGD)　is　a　critical　response　to　the　over-consumption　of　natural　resources　and　pollution　caused　by　modern　industry.　Innovation-driven　IGD　has　generated　great　interest　in　recent　years.　However,　relatively　less　attention　has　been　paid　to　the　various　aspects　of　IGD　and　the　moderating　role　of　regional　factors,　including　the　developmental　stage　of　IGD,　government-scale,　and　enterprise-scale.　The　present　study　was　conducted　to　fill　these　research　gaps　using　panel　data　across　30　provinces　in　China　from　2005　to　2015.　The　empirical　results　show　that　1)　innovation　does　promote　IGD　and　is　most　effective　in　low-carbon　production,　followed　by　resource　reduction,　economic　operation,　and　pollution　abatement;　2)　there　is　an　inverted　U-shaped　relationship　between　the　regional　IGD　level　and　the　role　of　innovation　in　IGD;　and　3)　both　government-scale　and　enterprise-scale　contribute　to　the　innovation-driven　IGD.　These　findings　provide　new　insights　into　the　impact　of　innovation　on　IGD　and　may　shed　light　on　future　decisions　related　to　green　development.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd