Exploring the heterogeneous effects of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience is crucial for fostering high-quality development within the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. By using panel data spanning from 2006 to 2022 for 27 cities within this region, the heterogeneity, moderating effect, and threshold effect of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience are systematically analysed through panel quantile regression, moderating effect models, and threshold regression models, respectively. The findings reveal the following. (1) New quality productive forces significantly enhance ecological resilience, particularly at the low ecological resilience quantile, where its impact is most pronounced; however, the effect gradually diminishes at higher quantiles, adhering to the “diminishing marginal effect” law. (2) The moderating effect of technological innovation varies considerably; cities with greater resilience benefit the most from technological innovation, whereas those with low resilience experience weaker benefits. (3) Technological innovation exhibits a notable threshold characteristic in enhancing the effects of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience. Drawing from these conclusions, recommendations aimed at bolstering ecological resilience in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone and at accelerating the creation of new quality productive forces to foster harmonious symbiosis and sustainable development of the regional economy and the ecological environment are proposed.