The study delves into factors shaping the success of Horizon 2020 research projects, particularly in health digitalization, offering crucial insights into R&D project innovation dynamics. 1,162 projects, which are classified as projects from the health section of Horizon 2020, were selected for analysis. Two modelling techniques are applied, depending on the data specificity of the outcome categories: negative binomial regression and zero-inflated negative binomial regression Our findings emphasize the significance of collaborative networks, expressed as the number of participants compared to project budget size, for driving success across various outcome categories. Notably, while peer-reviewed publications enhance project outcomes, they divert resources from the generation of alternative outputs. Collaborative partnerships, rather than geographical or technological factors, are pivotal for project innovation. These findings challenge assumptions about the impact of co-financing and geographical diversity on project outcomes. Balancing finance resource allocation and supporting diverse knowledge dissemination among participants are crucial for maximizing project impact. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of collaborative dynamics, resource allocation strategies, and project management in driving R&D project innovation, particularly in health digitalization under Horizon 2020. These insights inform project management, funding strategies, and policy interventions to foster innovation and research excellence in health digitalization and beyond.

The dual transition to a sustainable and digital world compels firms to innovate their business models if they want to be competitive. However, the understanding of how international business, digital transformation and sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) are related is still very limited with scarce and fragmented empirical evidence. In this study, we aim to deepen these relationships. First, as regards the link between international business and the development of SBMI, we examine two distinct mechanisms and we discuss pull and push factors. One is through the firm’s participation in a GVC and the other happens via a firm’s exposure to international markets through exports. Second, as regards digital transformation, we discuss twofold roles: one related to how digital transformation may directly promote the development of SBMI (acting as a driver), and the other how the adoption of digital technologies may enhance the link between internationalization and SBMI (acting as anenabler). Our empirical findings, based on a large sample of European and non-European firms, support the proposed positive direct relationships. Contrary to our expectations, digital transformation weakens the relationship between international exposure (both in terms of GVC participation and exports) and the development of SBMI.

Green innovation is regard as an essential way to achieve sustainable development strategy in China. However, the role of Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) majors and educational backgrounds have been little attention. Using data of Chinese public companies from 2013 to 2022 (amounting to 7,457 firm-year observations) and adopting imprinting theory, we show reliable evidence that a positive association between CEOs’ environment-related major and green innovation performance. The CEOs’ educational levels are also positive influence on corporate green innovation. Further outcomes confirm that the positive correlation is more pronounced when CEOs with longer tenure. Specifically, based on resource-based view, it is shown that government subsidies positively moderate this association between CEOs’ educational levels and green innovation. Collectively, the observations in this study provide not only theoretical significance but also practical suggestions for company green innovation in China context.

This paper explores how firms in digital cultural sectors address idiosyncratic challenges associated with the distinctive nature of their products due to their authentic and symbolic characteristics and succeed in the international expansion. Specifically, we draw attention to the concept of value of cultural digital offerings and explore how it is transferred internationally. Theoretically, we build on the traditional internationalization literature and attempt to develop a conceptualization of novel type of firm-specific advantage (FSA), labeled as cultural FSA. Empirically, we conduct an explorative case research in the setting of two cultural segments in Finnish context: video gaming and gamified digital education. This study expands the understanding about how cultural products’ internationalization can enrich assumptions about different types of FSA. Furthermore, it extends the knowledge about digital internationalization by showing the role and the extent of the use of non-digital mechanisms in the expansion of the entirely digital offerings. Lastly, this research sheds light on the relevance of the liability of foreignness and localization consideration for digital cultural internationalization.