Ana Colovic

Purpose: Research on how quickly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) source and integrate new technology during crises is scant, despite an assumption that speed is important for an SME's ability to cope. Rapid technology transfer may be subject to time compression diseconomies, where accelerating the process becomes less efficient. This study examines how the speed of technology transfer during a crisis impacts two components of SME resilience: response and recovery. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey comprising established scales for speed of technology transfer, response and recovery was administered in France during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was made up of 229 SMEs operating in a variety of sectors and industries. Findings: The effect of the speed of technology transfer on resilience depends on the similarity between the source and the SME, as reflected in (1) other firms vs. universities and (2) technology sources located in the same country as the SME vs. those located in other countries. Results reveal differentiated effects in terms of the relationship between speed of technology transfer and an SME's capability to respond vs. recover. Research limitations/implications: Research into resilience of small firms needs to consider how they seek outside help in the form of new technology during a crisis. Researchers need to pay more attention to the speed at which this happens, as there are absorptive capacity constraints in small firms that can hinder the process of new technology adoption during a crisis. Practical implications: SMEs should be prepared to use the speed of technology transfer during crises, drawing on relationships with firms and universities as technology providers differently, depending on resilience goals. SMEs should be aware that rapid technology transfer from sources in the same country may be more beneficial for resilience capabilities during a global crisis compared to rapid technology transfer from foreign sources. Originality/value: This research is among the first to examine the effects of the speed of technology transfer on two components of resilience – response and recovery – with a focus on SMEs. It contributes by showing the differential impact of technology transfer speed from various sources on SME resilience.

Resilience in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has gained increasing attention due to their critical role in global economies and vulnerability to diverse disruptions. This study conducts a systematic literature review that examines the current state of research on the role of digital transformation in SME resilience, aiming to advance theoretical development and guide future inquiry. Drawing on data from both Scopus and Web of Science, and covering peer-reviewed research published between 2000 and 2024, the review identifies key thematic clusters (operational tools, intelligence and analytics, integration and infrastructure, innovation and strategic capabilities, and organisational capacities) and highlights predominant theoretical lenses, including the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) and the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm. Findings reveal a research emphasis on the coping phase of resilience, with the anticipation and adaptation stages being less explored. From a practical perspective, the review offers SME managers actionable insights to strategically prioritise digital investments across all resilience stages and encourages government policymakers to develop tailored support policies that foster digital adoption and resilience-building.

Innovation intermediaries are increasingly mobilized in policy programs to support the adoption and diffusion of digital technologies. Yet we still have a limited understanding of how different types of organizations enact this role and which business models they adopt. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 20 (European) Digital Innovation Hubs in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and the UK, we investigate how intermediaries create and deliver value in policy-driven digital transition initiatives. We identify four recurrent business model configurations that combine technology/sector, or territorial focus (value proposition) with centralized or decentralized governance (value delivery), each associated with specific organizational forms such as Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), business associations, territorial development organizations, and technology and knowledge transfer networks. The study clarifies how organizational characteristics shape the enactment of digital intermediation and offers guidance for the design and targeting of future policy initiatives.

In the 2020s, Paris Region was the top innovation hub in Europe. As a global city, Paris featured high numbers of engineers, scientists, top universities, research institutions and industrial clusters. Leading global companies had numerous activities in Paris. Paris Region received a high volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in hi-tech sectors. It boasted a vibrant ecosystem made up of start-ups, small-and-medium-sized enterprises, large firms and research and education institutions. A number of companies invested in Paris to serve as suppliers to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. IQM and Twilio both made hi-tech investments in Paris Region but for different reasons. Both companies had well-defined interest in Paris Region. The stories of these companies highlight various aspects of Paris Region's attractiveness for hi-tech FDI.

Purpose: This study examines the impact of initial informality years on subsequent firm performance and the moderating effect of institutional quality on this relationship.Design/methodology/approach: The study draws on the World Bank Enterprises Survey (WBES) data covering 116 developing economies over the 2006–2018 period. The study also utilizes data from the Heritage Foundation, the World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI) and the Fraser Institute Economic Freedom Database.Findings: The study demonstrates that firms that start operation without formal registration perform better than firms that start operation formally. However, contrary to prior studies that show a linear relationship between time spent unregistered and subsequent firm performance, this study finds a non-monotonic relationship between the two – taking an inverted–U shape form. The study further shows that institutional quality at country level moderates this relationship such that firms operating in countries marked by poorly functioning formal institutions benefit from remaining unregistered longer.Originality/value: This study is the first to show a non-monotonic relationship between the time firms spend without registration and their subsequent performance. By doing so, it reconciles the contradicting findings in the extant literature regarding the relationship between the two variables. It also identifies one important boundary condition – institutional quality – that moderates this relationship.

We discuss how public administrations have used crowdsourcing to find solutions to specific problems posed by the COVID‐19 pandemic, and to what extent crowdsourcing has been instrumental in promoting open innovation and service co‐creation. We propose a conceptual typology of crowdsourcing challenges based on the degree of their openness and collaboration with the crowd that they establish. Using empirical evidence collected in 2020 and 2021, we examine the extent to which these types have been used in practice. We discuss each type of crowdsourcing challenge identified and draw implications for public policy.