Programa del congreso

Introducing product and/or process innovations within the supply chain operations is generally considered a catalyst for firms to reinforce their competitive advantages in the marketplace and be more sustainable. We conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the current research landscape about the interrelations in this theme over the last 25 years (2000-2024). We rely on bibliometric tools broadly utilized in the literature and cutting-edge metrics recently provided by Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. Key findings indicate an important growth in publications in the last 10 years and that his theme embodies a rich interdisciplinary nature, as corroborated by the diverse array of researchers from multiple disciplines who have explored it. The metrics used from the WoS and Scopus reflect that the theme under consideration has an important academic influence. We identify which topics are currently receiving the most attention in academic discourse. and, using Scopus metrics, illustrate how the reviewed studies align with different Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, we emphasize the central challenges supply chain managers face today and suggest future research directions for scholars to explore.

This paper leverages a cross-national dataset of 1,140 manufacturing SMEs in the year 2023 to investigate a pressing contemporary phenomenon: firms’ green and digital transition. This twin transition (TT) challenges traditional benefit-maximization paradigms by compelling firms to integrate sustainability and technological considerations into their operations. Against this backdrop, this study explores the antecedents of successful firms’ twin transition, employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify configurations that enable these firms to navigate this dual transformation. Our findings emphasize the crucial role of organizational slack and institutional pressures in enabling a successful TT in manufacturing SMEs. Firms with slack invest in digitalization and sustainability, even without regulatory incentives, while resource-constrained SMEs struggle despite strong pressures. Competitive environments drive TT as a differentiation strategy, but regulatory frameworks alone are insufficient. Policymakers should provide financial and capacity-building support, while managers should view TT as a strategic opportunity for competitiveness and long-term growth.

•Purpose

This study examines how digital transformation (DT), eco-innovation (EI), and environmental sustainability interact within a business context, emphasizing eco-innovation’s role in linking these phenomena.

•Theoretical framework

Grounded primarily in the Nature Resource-Based View, this research explores the interplay between DT, EI, and environmental sustainability. A literature review highlights their existing relationships and EI’s potential to enhance synergy.

• Methodology

Data were collected from 212 Spanish manufacturing firms using a 7-point Likert scale questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analyzed these relationships.

• Results/Implications

Findings suggest that while DT and environmental sustainability exhibit a positive

relationship, EI strengthens this connection by facilitating sustainable practices through digital technologies. This highlights EI’s relevance in maximizing DT’s benefits.

• Originality

This study provides theoretical and practical insights by positioning eco-innovation as an enhancer rather than an exclusive enabler of the link between digital transformation and sustainability. It highlights the vital role of both DT and EI in driving green technologies, fostering a more environmentally sustainable business landscape.

• Acknowledgements

The project referenced as TED2021-131293B-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR.

The work of Paula Sáez Rodríguez is carried out through the grant FPI 22335/FPI/23. Fundación Séneca. Región de Murcia (Spain)

The ways firms innovate and digitalize have attracted enormous attention through the so-called open innovation paradigm and the industry 4.0 revolution, respectively. Surprisingly, despite the vast amount of research in academia and widely spread application in practice, the open innovation and industry 4.0 relationship has been mainly overlooked. The scarce studies are rather collateral or discuss how different industry 4.0 technologies may contribute to openness in innovation. However, how open innovation strategies may foster industry 4.0 adoption remains neglected. This study postulates that innovation is increasingly only possible in manufacturing by relying on the back-to-end interconnectedness that provides industry 4.0 and the two-way embeddedness enabled by open innovation. According to this view, we explore whether innovativeness and openness accelerate the adoption of 12 industry 4.0 technologies, ranging from augmented/virtual reality to 3D manufacturing, including machine learning, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, big data, natural language processing, radio frequency identification (RFID), industrial robots, and automated storage and retrieval systems. Using a sample of 733 manufacturing firms competing in Spain, the regression results indicate that more innovative and open firms are ahead in the race for the digital transformation of manufacturing, but they do so according to a moderated relationship.