Variable definition.

Against the background of the accelerated evolution of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial change, scientific and technical talents, as essential innovation resources, play an important role in promoting the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2021, the article constructs a fixed-effects model and systematically researches the impact of scientific and technological talents on the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry. The results show that scientific and technical talents play a significant role in promoting the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry, and the upgrading of the consumption structure and the accumulation of productive service industries play a mediating role. Heterogeneity analysis found that the promotion effect of scientific and technical talents is more favorable in the eastern region, medium-technology level manufacturing, and labor-intensive manufacturing. Among the three sub-dimensions of scientific and technological talents, the scale of scientific and technical talents has the most significant impact on the development of the manufacturing industry. The analysis of the spatial spillover effect finds that scientific and technological talents will have a positive spillover effect on the development of the manufacturing industry in neighboring areas. The study provides a basis for relevant departments to formulate effective strategies and policies.