Under the current background of globalization and informatization, the Party and the government attach great importance to the development of new quality productivity, especially strategic emerging industries, to achieve high-quality economic development. Education, science and technology, and talents, as the core elements of national development, their coupling and coordinated development is of vital significance for promoting strategic emerging industries. Based on China's provincial panel data from 2010 to 2022, this study constructs a systematic evaluation index system for education, science and technology, and talents, and uses entropy weight-TOPSIS method and coupling coordination degree model to quantitatively measure the coupling coordination degree of education, science and technology, and talents in China. This paper reveals the spatio-temporal evolution of their coupling coordination degree and its promoting effect on the development of strategic emerging industries. In the process of concrete demonstration, the theoretical framework of the coupling and coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talents is researched and constructed, and the action mechanism of the coupling and coordination degree on the digitalization level, on the strategic emerging industries and the mediating effect of digitalization level are tested. The results show that the coupling and coordination degree can be improved with the help of digital level, so as to promote the development of strategic emerging industries more effectively. Through measurement research, it is found that the coupling and coordination degree of education, science and technology, and talents in China shows an overall trend of fluctuation and rise, indicating that China has made some achievements in promoting the coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talents. However, it is further found that there is significant heterogeneity in the development level of the coupling and coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talents on the development of strategic emerging industries through the improvement of digital level. This phenomenon of unbalanced spatial development indicates that there are great differences in the development level of different regions in China. Based on the above findings, the following policy recommendations are put forward: First, actively promote the reform of the education system, optimize the allocation of educational resources, improve the quality of education, and cultivate more high-quality talents. Second, increase investment and incentives for scientific and technological innovation, encourage enterprises, universities and research institutions to strengthen cooperation, and promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. Third, improve the talent development ecology, establish a sound talent incentive mechanism, and attract and retain high-level talents. In addition, promote the application of digital technologies, accelerate the construction of digital infrastructure, and improve the level of digital services to promote industrial upgrading and innovative development. Finally, deepen the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises, stimulate the vitality of state-owned enterprises, and improve their leading role in strategic emerging industries.