Utilizing 2013-2022 panel data across 142 countries, this study conducts a Difference-in-Differences (DID) quasi-natural experiment to evaluate the impact of the Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative on national innovation of participating countries. The results show that the policy significantly promotes innovation growth in Belt and Road partner countries through three key transmission channels: the education-led effect, the technology-empowerment effect, and the talent-support effect. The effects are heterogeneous: the policy exerts a positive impact on innovation in Europe and Asia, whereas effects in Africa and the Americas remain limited. It favors well-governed, low-income countries, with larger innovation-enhancing impact on less populous countries. Accordingly, the study advocates for strengthening strategic policy alignment and integrating education, science and technology, and talent under the BRI framework. It further recommends expanding regional cooperation and prioritizing assistance for smaller economies to collectively enhance innovation capabilities within the BRI framework.