Abstract: Based on the patent data from 2008 to 2018 and the emissions of “three wastes”， the coupling relationship between them was quantitatively studied using methods such as spatial analysis and coupling coordination research， to analysis the spatiotemporal changes in the status of pollutants and innovation development in the Yellow River basin. The results showed that： （1） In areas with better economic development conditions such as provincial capitals in the basin， the degree of imbalance was relatively low， and the surrounding areas were driven by radiation， resulting in a decrease in the degree of imbalance； （2） The degree of innovation and pollution imbalance in various cities in the Yellow River basin presented a trend of development from high to low on a time scale； （3） The innovation and pollution in the Yellow River basin were mostly in a disorderly development state， but their coupling degree had improved in the later stage， with a good development trend； （4） The overall coupling coordination degree of the Yellow River basin was not high， and most of the coupling stages were at a low level. Areas with relatively high coupling degree were mainly concentrated in provincial capitals and surrounding cities.