China　needs　to　promptly　establish　a　globally competitive　innovative　ecosystem　to　ensure　high-quality　development　of　the　economy.　This　study　introduces　an　ecosystem　characterized　by　innovative　populations,　nutrients,　and　biotope.　We　employ　a　suitability　model　embedded　in　the　WAWBO　operator　that　assesses　the　ecological　niches　of　regional　innovation　systems　from　2012　to　2021,　followed　by　an　in-depth　study　of　regional　differences　and　spatial　correlations　of　innovation　ecological　niches.　The　investigation　indicated　that　the　national　innovation　niche　is　generally　stable　and　shows　an　increasing　trend.　Nevertheless,　the　overall　suitability　is　low,　and　there　is　a　notable　opportunity　for　improvement.　Furthermore,　there　are　regional　differences　in　the　eastern,　central,　and　western　areas,　and　the　Gini　coefficient　within　each　region　shows　a　clear　trend　of　＇east　＞　central　＞　west,＇　demonstrating　a　noticeable　Matthew　effect.　Lastly,　the　national　innovation　ecological　niches　display　a　distinct　clustering　pattern　with　low　values.　This　study　contends　that　it　is　crucial　to　enhance　the　mutually　beneficial　relationship　between　innovation　subjects,　logically　allocate　resources,　reduce　regional　disparities,　and　maximize　the　innovation　environment.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2025.