In the current era marked by deep integration of digitalization, intelligence, and green transformation, the manufacturing sector, a major consumer of resources, plays a critical role in achieving China’s “Dual Carbon” goals through its green transition. However, the high uncertainty and complexity inherent in green innovation necessitate that enterprises possess robust knowledge reconstruction capabilities. With the deepening integration of next-generation information technology and advanced manufacturing processes, it has become crucial to clarify whether and how intelligent transformation drives corporate green innovation by optimizing knowledge activities. While existing studies have explored the relationship between intelligence and green innovation, few have systematically unveiled the micro?level mechanisms through which intelligent transformation empowers green innovation via specific pathways of knowledge acquisition, integration, and creation from the perspective of knowledge dynamic capabilities. To address this gap, this paper builds a theoretical framework of “intelligent transformation - knowledge dynamic capabilities - green innovation” grounded in the knowledge?based view and dynamic capability theory. Using a sample of Chinese A?share listed manufacturing firms from 2015 to 2024, this study quantifies the degree of corporate intelligent transformation through text analysis; measures green innovation with green patent application data; and employs human?capital level as a proxy for knowledge dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, it constructs separate metrics for knowledge acquisition, knowledge integration, and knowledge creation capabilities based on forward?citation information of patent IPC classifications and indicators of knowledge?combination novelty. Empirically, it analyzes the impact of intelligent transformation on green innovation in manufacturing enterprises and examines the mediating role of knowledge dynamic capabilities. The findings indicate that intelligent transformation significantly promotes green innovation. Knowledge dynamic capabilities serve as a mediator between intelligent transformation and green innovation. This mediating effect remains robust across sub?dimensions, confirming that knowledge acquisition, knowledge integration, and knowledge creation capabilities are key channels through which intelligent transformation enhances green innovation. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the green innovation?promoting effect of intelligent transformation is more pronounced in high?tech firms, heavily polluting industries, and enterprises located in eastern regions. The marginal contributions of this study are threefold: First, it integrates intelligent transformation and green innovation within a unified analytical framework and, by introducing the lens of knowledge dynamic capabilities, opens “the black box” of the relationship between intelligent transformation and green innovation. Second, it constructs a patent?based measurement system for sub?dimensions of knowledge dynamic capabilities, overcoming the subjectivity of survey?based methods and enriching quantitative research approaches in dynamic capability theory. Third, it reveals the heterogeneous impacts of intelligent transformation under different contextual conditions, providing micro?level empirical evidence to support governments in formulating differentiated industrial intelligence policies and guiding firms to build digitally?empowered green innovation systems.