S02-E11 - "Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review"

S02-E11 - "Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies: A Systematic Literature Review"

The 11th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that provides a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of research surrounding Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3), particularly within the European Union. By examining 68 key publications, the authors identify a strategic shift toward place-based innovation policies that leverage local knowledge to foster economic growth and diversification. The study maps the evolution of the field into four primary clusters—knowledge, policy, innovation, and specialization—while highlighting the entrepreneurial discovery process as a vital bottom-up mechanism for identifying competitive advantages. Furthermore, the work addresses six critical implementation challenges, such as the risk of favoring established interest groups and the difficulties faced by structurally weaker regions. Ultimately, the sources synthesize a decade of practical experience to suggest how multi-level governance and collaborative leadership can better support sustainable regional development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-025-02736-3 [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13132-025-02736-3] podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

S02-E10 - "What drives open innovation in Vietnamese manufacturing firms? Adaptive capacity at the nexus of strategy and orientation"

The 10th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that investigates how Vietnamese manufacturing firms utilize open innovation to enhance their economic and environmental performance. By integrating the Natural Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the study identifies proactive environmental strategy as a more dominant driver than entrepreneurial orientation for fostering innovation. The findings reveal that adaptive capacity serves as a vital internal mechanism that translates environmental strategies into open product innovation, which ultimately boosts firm results. Conversely, while entrepreneurial orientation supports open process innovation, it does not significantly improve a firm's overall ability to adapt. Ultimately, the study highlights that product-focused collaboration is more effective for sustainable value creation in emerging economies than process-oriented openness. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2026.100733 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2026.100733] podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

S02-E09 - Differentiated organisational logics in social and environmental innovation: a comparative analysis between social economy enterprises and conventional enterprises

The 9th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that investigates how digital maturity, social and environmental practices, and external collaboration influence innovation within both social economy enterprises (SEE) and conventional firms (NSEE). By analyzing European survey data, the authors demonstrate that while both types of organizations benefit from these drivers, their effectiveness depends on the specific organisational logic of the enterprise. Digital maturity and environmental practices are consistent catalysts for innovation, but digitalization yields higher returns for mission-oriented SEEs than for profit-driven entities. The study reveals that external partnerships do not directly spark innovation on their own; instead, they act as an amplifier for social practices specifically within social economy contexts. Ultimately, the source argues that sustainable innovation is not a universal formula but a result of internal commitments and external openness tailored to a firm’s core mission. https://www.doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-10-2025-1385 [https://www.doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-10-2025-1385] podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

S02-E08 - “Why do we need them?”: Digital technologies and small and medium-sized enterprises’ performance

The 8th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that introduces a specialized decision-support model designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) successfully navigate digital transformation. By integrating cognitive mapping with the Best–Worst Method (BWM), the authors identify and prioritize 173 criteria that influence how technology adoption impacts firm performance. The study emphasizes that governance and leadership are the most critical determinants for success, outweighing traditional market factors. Expert validation from COTEC Portugal confirms the model’s practical utility in bridging the gap between theoretical innovation and real-world business application. Ultimately, the framework serves as a strategic tool for managers to evaluate their digital readiness and optimize resource allocation in a competitive landscape. https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-025-07023-7 [https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-025-07023-7] podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.

S02-E07 - Green logistics and supply chain knowledge management: an extended framework-based systematic literature review

The 7th episode of the 2nd season of podNECE presents a study that examines the intersection of green logistics, supply chain management, and knowledge management to address theoretical and methodological gaps in the field. By analyzing eighty high-quality articles, the authors identify that research is currently dominated by quantitative methods and often lacks a robust theoretical foundation, though the resource-based view remains the most utilized lens. The study reveals a significant lack of multi-country and multi-industry perspectives, noting that most existing work focuses on single contexts like India or China. To bridge these gaps, the authors propose a knowledge-driven framework that emphasizes the importance of knowledge brokers and digital platforms in building resilient, sustainable networks. This model illustrates how organizations can navigate global disruptions and institutional pressures by fostering innovation and effective knowledge transfer. Ultimately, the paper provides a comprehensive research agenda to guide future scholarly exploration toward more diverse and theoretically grounded investigations of the circular economy. https://www.doi.org/10.1108/JKM-04-2025-0483 podNECE is a podcast by NECE - Research Centre for Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.