Abstract: Most of the existing researches take results of innovation as the result of the equivalent input and make quantitative analysis, but the analysis of innovation process and the nature of the mechanism is not enough in-depth. The essence of innovation is the application of knowledge based on exploratory learning, learning from others and learning from experience, and the input of R & D investment is only the input of exploratory learning. This paper selects sixteen main industries in China and calculates different learning effects in innovation respectively, and find enterprise innovation depends more on learning from others and imitative innovation is popular, but exploratory learning and learning from experience is obviously insufficient, which causes the original innovation of enterprises in china is slow. Under the background of innovation driven, we must increase the important role of exploratory learning in innovation, cultivate the subject of exploratory learning, and switch from learning from others to exploratory learning and learning from experience.