Analyzing SME Digitalization Requirements Through a Technology Radar Framework in Southeast Lower Saxony

In the contemporary context, fostering the development of Russia’s northern and Arctic territories through an innovation-oriented approach is essential. This necessitates boosting the innovation-driven activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with government support playing a key role. Using the Komi Republic as a case study, this article aims to identify the factors hindering the innovation-driven development of SMEs in the North and the Arctic from the perspective of SME stakeholders. It also seeks to propose recommendations to address these challenges, including improving the effectiveness of government support measures and advocating for the development and implementation of a more efficient corporate governance system tailored to SMEs. The study identifies key barriers preventing the full utilization of innovative potential, evaluates the effectiveness of existing government support mechanisms for SMEs in northern and Arctic regions (with a focus on the Komi Republic), and proposes measures to foster innovation-driven activities among SMEs. The scientific contribution of this research lies in formulating a set of policy recommendations to strengthen government support for innovative SMEs and in developing and substantiating elements of a corporate governance framework as a more advanced organizational model. This model is designed to address the challenges and risks impacting the ecosystem of innovative SMEs in the North and Arctic. The findings of this study provide a foundation for the development of additional regional policy measures aimed at fostering innovation among SMEs in these regions. Moreover, they contribute to further research on the role of SMEs in ensuring regional economic security and mitigating population outflow, as well as guiding improvements in the corporate governance structure within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Digital transformation has become a critical factor for business growth and sustainability in the modern era. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guangxi Province, China, face significant barriers in adopting digital technologies. Despite government initiatives and advancements in technology, many SMEs in the region remain hesitant or unable to embrace digital transformation. This paper examines the financial, technological, organizational, and external challenges hindering digitalization in Guangxi's SMEs, based on qualitative case studies of five representative companies from different industries. The findings reveal that limited financial resources, insufficient technological infrastructure, resistance to change, and inadequate policy support are key factors contributing to the digital transformation dilemma. Practical recommendations for overcoming these barriers and fostering a more conducive digital ecosystem are discussed, emphasizing the importance of tailored approaches for SMEs in less developed regions.

The relevance. The main problem of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Russian Federation is that government support measures are not always an incentive to development: the dominance of large businesses,the difficult economic situation and the desire for stable profits often force SME organizations to simply exist on state-provided capital in isolation from the regional economic situation. The solution to this problem forms the relevance of the chosen topic. The purpose of this study is to study the main statistical patterns of changes in the financial situation of SMEs in the regions of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation in terms of their quantitative and qualitative development. Objectives. To achieve this goal, an analysis of official statistical data on SMEs in certain regions of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation was carried out: their position in the general federal rating, revenue and number of employees, as well as the total number of SMEs over a five-year period. Methodology. To obtain the results of the study, general scientific methods were used: induction, deduction; statistical methods: observation, grouping, analysis of dynamics and structure. Results: the share of SMEs in the Russian economy in comparison with developed European countries is analyzed; the main problems associated with the resulting low proportion of SMEs in our country are presented; the analysis of the structure of small business in Russia by industry is carried out; a comparative analysis of the revenue indicators of SME enterprises, taking into account relevant government support measures, is also presented, the dynamics of the number of organizations in the SME sector is presented, the dynamics of economic indicators of the turnover of funds and the average number of jobs in SME organizations are reflected; the measures of state support for SMEs are considered and their effectiveness is assessed. Conclusion. State centralized financial support for small and medium-sized businesses, without any doubt, is, if not an incentive to development, then at least a guarantee of the survival of many enterprises in this business segment.

Purpose This study aims to examine the obstacles and approaches to achieving sustainable development in India’s cement solid and hollow brick production business, with a specific emphasis on incorporating the triple bottom line (TBL) concept into strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach Using the step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA)–weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) approach, the study prioritized 11 economic, 9 environmental and 14 social sustainability indicators based on information collected from literature and expert opinions. Findings The study provides valuable insights into the difficulties encountered by SMEs while implementing strategies that focus on the TBL. By putting emphasis on the sustainability criteria, the key areas that require attention to promote sustainability get identified and addressed. Research limitations/implications The study’s focus on SMEs in this industry limits its generalizability. To have a more complete picture, future studies may include many areas. Practical implications The identified and prioritised sustainability characteristics help small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) design strategies to address sustainable development concerns. The research findings could also inform policymakers and regulatory bodies about the challenges faced by SMEs in the cement and brick production sector regarding sustainability. It could highlight the need for supportive policies and regulations to promote sustainable practices and incentivize SMEs to adopt the TBL approach. The paper can offer practical insights for SME owners and managers on integrating sustainability principles into their business strategies. Actionable recommendations and best practices for enhancing environmental performance, social impact and economic viability within the context of cement and brick production are outlined. Social implications TBL policies improve the sustainability and profitability of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) and promote environmentally and socially responsible practices that benefit the industry and society. The research paper may facilitate greater engagement and collaboration among various stakeholders involved in the cement and brick production industry, including SMEs, larger corporations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local communities. This cooperative approach can encourage open communication, the establishment of trust and coordinated actions to tackle sustainability challenges, ultimately improving social cohesion and collaboration. Originality/value This study provides new and valuable insights by investigating the development of TBL strategies in SMEs in the cement solid and hollow brick manufacturing sector in India. The utilization of the SWARA–WASPAS technique brings novelty to research on sustainable development in this field.

The digital transformation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is a critical phenomenon shaping the global business landscape. This paper presents a comparative review between the United States and Africa, exploring the diverse trajectories of digitalization within these regions. While the USA is often at the forefront of technological advancements, Africa's SMEs exhibit unique challenges and opportunities in their digital transformation journey. In the United States, SMEs have embraced digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge. The adoption of cloud computing, data analytics, and e-commerce platforms has become ubiquitous, fostering innovation and scalability. This comparative study delves into the specific strategies employed by American SMEs to navigate the complexities of the digital era. On the contrary, African SMEs face distinct hurdles in their digital transformation efforts. Infrastructure limitations, limited access to capital, and a diverse economic landscape present unique challenges. However, this review sheds light on the innovative approaches taken by African SMEs to overcome these barriers. Leveraging mobile technology, localized digital solutions, and collaborative networks, African SMEs are carving out their digital paths. Moreover, this comparative review emphasizes the role of government policies and support mechanisms in shaping the digital transformation landscape for SMEs in both regions. By examining regulatory frameworks, funding initiatives, and skill development programs, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the ecosystem supporting SMEs in their digital evolution. The digital transformation of SMEs is a dynamic process with distinct nuances in the USA and Africa. While American SMEs benefit from advanced technological infrastructures, African SMEs showcase resilience and adaptability in leveraging digital tools to overcome challenges. Understanding these diverse trajectories is essential for policymakers, businesses, and researchers seeking to foster inclusive and sustainable digital growth globally.
 Keywords: Digital Transformation, SMEs, USA, Africa, Review.

This review paper systematically synthesizes existing literature on knowledge sharing (KS) and knowledge transfer (KT) in the context of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry, updating previous research and making predictions about emerging issues. The comprehensive literature review employs three different bibliometric techniques: (1) textual analysis of keywords and abstracts to identify relevant research areas, (2) cocitation analysis of references to analyze the evolution of KS and KT in SMEs, and (3) bibliographic linkage analysis of documents to summarize the background and results. The resulting conceptual map outlines the historical development of KS and KT at individual, group, and organizational levels in the construction industry. The study emphasizes the critical significance of KS and KT for SMEs in this industry. It highlights the role of innovation and open innovation in facilitating the successful implementation of KS and KT. The analysis also reveals the need for enhanced knowledge management in SMEs through better data management, implementation of digital systems for internal management, identification of inefficiencies in KT in collaborative networks, and adjustment of knowledge management approaches to suit different cultural and geographic contexts. Finally, the paper suggests future trends in KS and KT, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, technological capabilities, and developing a suitable organizational culture and structure for open innovation in the construction industry. This article offers an innovative approach to KS and KT in SMEs and practical recommendations for improving knowledge management and innovation capacity in construction‐related businesses. Its systematic approach and focus on SMEs in the construction industry make it highly relevant for research and business practice.

The advent of knowledge management has offered new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in peripheral regions to leverage knowledge as a source of competitive advantage. However, few studies at firm level examine the role of knowledge management in helping to improve innovation and competitiveness in SMEs in such regions. This paper explores how SMEs in peripheral regions can use knowledge management concepts and practices of knowledge acquisition and assimilation to achieve higher levels of innovation implementation. Survey findings indicate that more innovative firms are more likely to acquire or source external knowledge through various methods, and are more likely to have higher levels of absorptive capacity. Overall, the authors conclude that SMEs in peripheral regions can use knowledge acquisition and assimilation as antecedents to innovation to help overcome innate tangible resource limitations.

Purpose This study aims to assess and analyse the phenomenon of digitalization, which is characterized by the regular emergence of new technologies and their continuous potential for development. It focuses on the selection of technologies that can sustainably enhance efficiency or confer competitive advantages for companies, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a survey among 96 SMEs in the manufacturing industry. The survey is based on semi-structured interviews with SME management representatives. The authors then process the collected data by examining the average rate of digital transformation in each block, the mode and the median. The focus was on developments and changes in enterprise digital transformation. Findings The process model is a systematic framework for integrating new technologies in businesses, helping identify key technologies for sustainable efficiency and competitive advantage. This paper demonstrates the evolution of digital transformation in different building blocks of the BM Canvas for SMEs in the manufacturing industry. The average digital transformation rate has decreased for the Channels block, whereas other blocks have increased and will continue to grow. Practical implications The findings offer practical insights for SMEs looking to adopt digital transformation strategies. By using the technology evaluation canvas (TEC), businesses can make informed decisions about technology investments, ensuring a strategic approach to digitalization that aligns with their operational goals and capabilities. Originality/value This study presents an innovative approach to technology evaluation tailored for SMEs, addressing the challenges of limited resources and the need for strategic digitalization. The integration of the TEC into the process model enhances its applicability and value, providing a unique contribution to the field of business model development and digital transformation.

Cravo T. A., Becker B. and Gourlay A. Regional growth and SMEs in Brazil: a spatial panel approach, Regional Studies. This paper examines economic growth for a panel of 508 Brazilian micro-regions for the period 1980–2004, using spatial econometrics and paying particular attention to the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings indicate the presence of spatial dependence in the process of economic growth and the existence of two spatial regimes in Brazil. The human capital level of the whole population is an important growth determinant, but does not generate positive spillovers. Furthermore, human capital embodied in SMEs is more important than the size of this sector for regional growth and SME activity generates positive spatial spillovers.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are one of the main development agents and economic contributors to the regional areas. They increase productivity, create employment, and improve the quality of local community's life. They have also significant impacts on the environment and society collectively because a high percentage of businesses in regional areas belongs to SMEs. For example, near to 95% of regional businesses operating in service and industry sectors in Australia are SMEs. Hence, it is necessary to find out the best possible ways to engage the regional SMEs with sustainable practices and see what factors are contributing (or inhibiting) the regional SMEs to be sustainable business citizens. Bringing together the relevant literature and using quantitative methods, this paper explores factors affecting the sustainability adoption by regional SMEs. Through a case study approach, this paper builds a platform for future research in relation to better understanding of the factors affecting the adoption of sustainable practices outside metropolitan regions.

Resource support of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises for space industry development in Russia

PurposeThis study analyzes the role of regional cooperative banks in identifying and financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from a proximity perspective. Access to finance is a major challenge for SMEs. Regional cooperative banks can remove this barrier based on cooperative bank's characteristics and geographic proximity to SMEs. Understanding the interplay between these financial actors and firms can contribute to a better support of SMEs development.Design/methodology/approachThe results are based on a case study of eight SMEs located in southwestern France. Interviews were conducted with two regional cooperative funds and eight SMEs. The interview guide included questions related to the company, the projects financed and how financing was accessed.FindingsResults reveal that a combination of three forms of proximity allows regional cooperative banks and SMEs to establish effective financing operations. They show that regional cooperative banks are key players in the existing financing mechanisms for SMEs. Such financing is often used to gain access to larger players at a later stage. The findings suggest the need for public policies that promote the integration of financing actors in regional ecosystems to advance SMEs' development.Originality/valueThis article examines how SMEs access financing, with a focus on regional cooperative banks, which have received little attention in the literature. Moreover, the relationships between these actors are studied through the lens of proximity. Regional cooperative banks are able to finance projects that may have been overlooked by traditional banks due to trust-building local dynamics.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, one can observe a clear shift in the aims of regional policy in industrialized countries from reducing regional inequalities to developing endogenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovation in regions through regional innovation support systems. Innovation support systems are defined as a group of actively cooperating organizations that support the innovativeness of SMEs. An innovation support system consists of all agencies found in three support stages, namely the provision of general information, technological advice and joint R&D projects, between firms (of which technology-following SMEs are the main group), higher education institutes (HEIs) and public research establishments (PREs). Agencies found in these stages try to help to solve innovation problems mainly of technology-following SMEs by either giving them advice themselves or by referring them to other agencies in a further stage of support. The agencies can be mainly supra-nationally, nationally or regionally initiated. This paper aims at comparing these regional innovation support systems in Germany and East Asia, that is Japan and South Korea, both concerning the instruments used, their impact on regional economic development, their level of organizational embeddedness in regions and the ability of regions to coordinate innovation support policies. The main conclusions of the paper are that there are similarities between the regional innovation support systems found in the countries when it comes to policy instruments, but that the countries differ concerning their level of regional embeddedness and the abilities of regions to coordinate innovation support policies. The paper also tentatively concludes that in countries where regions have the ability to coordinate policies into integrative innovation support systems, the impact on regional economic development tend to be larger than in countries where these abilities are lacking, that is where dirigiste and grassroots support systems prevail. One important explanation for the different coordinating abilities lies in the different political-administrative systems found in the studied countries (centralized in South Korea versus federal in Germany). Other factors explaining differences are: a time lag of development policies between countries, differences between the history of supporting SMEs in regions, supra-national support frameworks, the commitment of the political leaders in regions, collective trust and the size of countries.

The aim of this research was to study the effect of internationalisation on the competitive strategies of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). An empirical study, based on the 'strategic fit' theory, was conducted on a sample of 59 SMEs. It revealed that international SMEs are significantly different from regional SMEs in terms of a number of 'competitive dimensions'. International SMEs are exposed to greater demands with regard to differentiating their products and minimising their production costs. They also adopt more pronounced concentration strategies.

The services sector plays a dominant role in the economy of most industrialized countries. In Canada for instance, this sector employs approximately 75% of the labour force, thus more than the manufacturing sector, and comprises both services to individuals/consumers and to organizations/enterprises. In this regard, industrial service SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are the object of particular attention from governments, given that they have become indispensable to the manufacturing and innovation " networks " of countries such as Canada. In the new global, knowledge-based economy, manufacturing enterprises, including SMEs, can rarely maintain or increase their competitiveness alone, hence the strategic necessity to collaborate with industrial service SMEs, most often within a network organization context. In this perspective, what " services " are most strategic and what are the key determinants of the performance of industrial service SMEs? In this paper, we develop a conceptual framework as a foundation to a research program designed to answer such questions, highlighting these organizations' needs and challenges with regard to their business practices. This framework's usefulness is illustrated by presenting an expert diagnostic system meant to evaluate and link the practices and performance of industrial service SMEs, and whose design is based on the conceptual framework.