Convenor
Convenor's affiliation
Keivan Aghasi
University of Sheffield
Co-convenors
Ali Samei, Mohammad Saleh Farazi
Abstract
SMEs face critical challenges in growth and scaling, which may be eased when adopting transformative technologies such as AI, blockchain, and other advanced digital tools. Despite their potential advantages, adopting these technologies is far from straightforward and poses significant implementation challenges for SMEs. Unlike large corporations, SMEs often lack the necessary resources, specialised talent, and (technological) capabilities to scale these technologies effectively. This track explores how regional innovation ecosystems can facilitate SME adoption of transformative technologies to overcome growth barriers and achieve sustainable scaling. We examine the role of intermediaries, collaborative platforms, public-private partnerships, and other relevant ecosystem-level factors in enabling SME growth through technology adoption. Key topics include growth trajectories of AI-adopting SMEs, scaling challenges in resource-constrained contexts, ecosystem orchestration for SME expansion, and collaborative models to accelerate growth. We welcome empirical studies, case analyses, and conceptual frameworks illuminating pathways for SMEs to achieve accelerated, sustainable growth by leveraging transformative technologies within supportive regional innovation ecosystems.
Description
SMEs represent the backbone of most economies, accounting for over 90% of businesses globally and contributing significantly to employment and GDP growth. However, the rapid advancement of transformative technologies—particularly AI, blockchain, and Industry 4.0/5.0 solutions—presents both unprecedented growth opportunities and formidable scaling challenges for SMEs. While these technologies promise enhanced efficiency, new market access, innovation capabilities, and competitive advantages that drive growth, SMEs often struggle to scale their operations due to limited financial resources, a shortage of specialised talent, a lack of technological infrastructure, and insufficient knowledge of growth strategies in digital contexts.
SME growth is inherently challenging, but the digital transformation era introduces new complexities. Traditional growth barriers—access to capital, talent acquisition, market reach—are compounded by technology-specific challenges. Many SMEs that successfully pilot AI or digital solutions struggle to scale these innovations across their operations or leverage them for market expansion. The "scaling gap"—the inability to move from experimentation to full implementation and growth—is particularly acute for SMEs attempting to compete in increasingly digital markets.
Regional innovation ecosystems—comprising universities, research institutions, large corporations, startups, government agencies, accelerators, and intermediary organizations—emerge as critical enablers for SME growth through technological transformation. These ecosystems can provide the technological infrastructure, knowledge networks, financial resources, and collaborative opportunities that SMEs need to overcome scaling barriers and achieve sustainable growth.
Yet not all regional ecosystems equally support SME growth. Ecosystem characteristics—e.g., density, diversity, connectivity, governance—may shape the growth opportunities available to SMEs. Understanding which ecosystem configurations best enable SMEs to leverage ecosystem resources to adopt AI and other technologies for sustainable growth remains a subject for academic inquiry.
This track invites contributions addressing (but not limited to) the following growth-oriented themes:
Growth Trajectories and Scaling Patterns:
• What growth trajectories do SMEs follow when adopting AI and transformative technologies?
• How does technology adoption timing (early vs. late) affect SME growth outcomes?
• What distinguishes SMEs that successfully scale AI adoption from those that stagnate?
• How do different scaling strategies (organic growth, partnerships, acquisition) interact with technology adoption?
Barriers to Adoption and Scaling:
• What are the primary barriers preventing SMEs from scaling AI and digital innovations?
• How do resource constraints at different growth stages affect technology scaling decisions?
• What organizational capabilities are critical for scaling technology-driven growth?
• How do SMEs overcome the "valley of death" between pilot projects and scaled implementation?
Ecosystem-Enabled Growth:
• How can regional ecosystems be designed to accelerate SME growth through digitalization effectively?
• What roles do different ecosystem actors play in facilitating technology adoption?
• How do collaborative innovation platforms enable SME access to transformative technologies?
• What collaborative innovation platforms most effectively enable SME’s adoption of technologies for scaling and market expansion?
Collaborative Growth Models:
• How can SMEs leverage open innovation and coopetition to hone their digital skills and capabilities to accelerate their growth?
• What partnership models enable effective technology transfer and scaling support?
• What role do accelerators, incubators, and innovation programmes play in disseminating AI technologies to support SMEs’ scaling?
We welcome diverse research approaches, including empirical studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods; longitudinal studies tracking SME growth trajectories; comparative case studies across regions and sectors; and conceptual/theoretical contributions.
By examining how regional innovation ecosystems enable SME growth through technology adoption, this track aims to advance both theoretical understanding and practical strategies for SME scaling in the digital age.