In　China’s　fast-paced　economic　development,　the　current　focus　is　cultivating　‘Specialized,　Refined,　Distinctive,　and　Innovative’　(SRDI)　enterprises.　This　paper　aims　to　advance　high-quality　SRDI　development　in　Chinese　cities　through　the　lens　of　the　big　data　knowledge　ecosystem.　By　constructing　a　framework　for　this　ecosystem,　the　article　explores　how　its　elements　collectively　contribute　to　SRDI　development　in　major　Chinese　cities.　Utilizing　a　combined　research　approach,　incorporating　Necessary　Condition　Analysis　(NCA)　and　fuzzy　set　Qualitative　Comparative　Analysis　(fsQCA),　the　study,　based　on　data　from　38　Chinese　cities,　innovatively　designs　variables　for　a　configurational　analysis　framework.　The　findings　reveal　four　pathways　for　promoting　SRDI　development,　each　with　unique　core　driving　conditions　and　a　substitution　relationship　between　antecedent　conditions.　This　research’s　contribution　lies　in　the　creative　construction　of　an　empirical　analysis　framework　examining　how　the　various　elements　of　the　big　data　ecosystem　impact　SRDI　development　levels　in　cities.　It　addresses　existing　research　gaps　in　SRDI　development　and　the　study　of　the　big　data　knowledge　ecosystem.　The　paper　uncovers　how　various　elements　of　the　big　data　knowledge　ecosystem　enhance　overall　SRDI　development　in　Chinese　cities　and　provides　scientific　research　support　for　understanding　the　facilitation　of　SRDI　development　by　the　big　data　knowledge　ecosystem.　©　2023　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.