Sustainability has become a crucial ethical imperative in determining the long-term prosperity of tourism destinations, given the urgent need to address global environmental challenges. This study focuses on the interconnection between cultural tourism and the Blue Economy, proposing an integrated view between the principles of the Blue Economy and cultural tourism. The aim is to explore the connections between the Blue Economy and underwater cultural heritage, and how the conservation of marine environments and the restoration of underwater cultural heritage can foster harmonious development, preserving ecological richness and promoting sustainable economic growth. The research adopts a qualitative methodological approach. Documentary and interpretive analysis is based on literature, websites, and reports relevant to the topic. The conclusions highlight the link between cultural heritage and the Blue Economy approach to promote responsible management of marine resources and enhancement of underwater heritage, presenting some actions and strategies implemented in Italy to enhance underwater heritage. Although this paper is a useful initial step to initiate and guide further research involving the presentation of case studies comparing different realities and approaches, to strengthen the interconnection between tourism and the Blue Economy, the use of this research methodology may be a limitation. Moreover, among the theoretical implications, it is proposed to broaden studies on these issues and suggest guidelines for future insights, considering the promising research area. In conclusion, this study explores how cultural tourism can drive economic development in harmony with the marine environment, offering an integrated vision between conservation, tourism, and the Blue Economy to foster the sustainable growth of tourism destinations.

In the context of rapid urban planning strategies, particularly in the adaptation to natural or man-made disasters (e.g. cities recovering from climate-related hazards or enduring war conflict) resilience frameworks emerge as crucial solutions. Despite the existence of numerous models, its operational integration into spatial-based instruments for strategic urban planning has not been consolidated. Existing instruments are mostly intended for policy and governance levels, but not for planners and designers. This paper reports about an ongoing project in the context of international development aid for the sustainable and resilient reconstruction of cities in Ukraine. Based on research on resilience models and approaches, the project targets the outline of an operational resilience model for urban planning that extends existing frameworks with considerations of the special conditions of war-inflicted cities. In addition, it must be assumed that resilience-related demands of cities vary highly, in accordance to site-specific factors (e.g. geographical location, exposure to threat, previous experiences). Conceptual means are needed thus to determine site-specific requirements which are able to fine-tune the model to a given location. In the project and the present paper, it is suggested that participatory approaches can ensure such local fitting. To make an adaptable resilience model and process, operational for planners and other users, a prototype tool is conceptualised that allows the rapid check-up of urban situations in regards to resilient demands (e.g. people evacuation times to shelters), and helps to design better solutions in urban reconstruction and future planning (e.g. allocation of new shelters). The presented project rests on four assumptions that are derived from the key necessities of the given context and outlines the approach to the research topic: (1) A hybrid methodological approach is needed that can connect qualitative and quantitative assessments, i.e. human deliberation as well as data-driven analysis. (2) A planner´s perspective need to be taken to ensure effective support in decision making for urban planning strategies. (3) A case study approach is necessary to ensure that location-specific conditions and requirements are factored into the model and method (while maintaining the overall target of a general framework applicable to other locations in the future). (4) The provision of a digital tool and interactive methodology is instrumental to collect intelligence about local demands and enable effective support for more rapid planning.

This paper delves into the emerging realms of digital finance, with a particular focus on Banca Popolare del Cassinate’s investment in the FX12 platform. It explores the concept of digital finance and its transformative impact on the financial sector, discussing both its advantages and challenges. Digital finance, or fintech, has fundamentally reshaped financial services by harnessing technological innovations. It encompasses various facets, such as digital payments, banking, and lending, revolutionizing how individuals and businesses manage their finances. The investment by Banca Popolare del Cassinate in the FX12 platform underscores the growing interest of traditional financial institutions in digital finance. FX12, a pioneering start-up based in Naples, has developed IncassaOra, a platform dedicated to digital and sustainable finance. It is the first platform to offer three distinct digital finance solutions: dynamic discounting, supply chain credit, and invoice trading. The FX12 platform serves as a marketplace for creditors of low-risk profile companies and professional investors. It aims to establish itself as a leader in invoice trading and fintech adoption in southern regions. To ensure rapid and informed growth, FX12 operates on a network model, actively engaging professionals, specialized consultants, and investors of varying scales. Banca Popolare del Cassinate, a regional bank headquartered in Cassino, Southern Lazio, pioneers a program of process dematerialization, viewing digital finance as a complement rather than a replacement to traditional services. By investing in FX12, the bank seeks to bolster its foreign exchange capabilities and provide customers with seamless financial experiences. The adoption of digital finance brings forth myriad benefits, including enhanced financial inclusion, reduced transaction costs, and increased sectoral efficiency. Furthermore, it fosters innovation, giving rise to products like robot-advisors and crowdfunding platforms. Nonetheless, the adoption of digital finance is not without challenges. Security and privacy concerns loom large, given the susceptibility of the digital realm to cyber threats and data breaches. Robust regulatory frameworks are imperative to safeguard consumers and uphold the integrity of financial systems. Additionally, bridging the digital divide, especially in developing nations, remains a significant hurdle to widespread adoption. In essence, Banca Popolare del Cassinate’s investment in the FX12 platform epitomizes the evolving landscape of digital finance. It underscores the potential for traditional financial institutions to embrace technology and offer innovative services. While digital finance offers immense opportunities, addressing its challenges requires concerted efforts from policymakers, financial entities, and consumers as technology continues to advance.

The phygital concept merges the digital world with the physical one to take the best experience values of each to create a holistic, immersive and engaging human experience. In the last years, tech startups, temporary organizations where cross-function teams generate and test hypotheses, are becoming increasingly active participants in phygital domain. There is no framework for building phygital solution (products and services) at the fuzzy front-end to address user/customer pains/problems and create value for businesses, and users/customers. In phygital domain the lack of accumulated practices of new product development in startups is a window of opportunity for research. In the research, the authors explored development process of new phygital products in startups, and factors influencing phygital product adoption. The research revealed four-stage human-centered new phygital product development process carried out by startup cross-function teams. At the fuzzy front-end the stages of phygital product development and activities for three categories (managers, designers, engineers) in a startup team were identified and discussed. The six key factors influencing phygital product adoption were identified.

Decarbonising transport is a key challenge to decreasing the anthropogenic impact of global warming, and it’s crucial for achieving the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal. The deployment of more sustainable transport systems fits coherently into the framework outlined by the 2030 Agenda. Vehicle electrification is one of the main policies allowing road transport to be decarbonised, which is why national governments strongly promote electric vehicles to fight climate change. The European Union (UE-27) has decided to take this path. To become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the European Union (EU) set more stringent carbon dioxide emission standards for cars and vans to reach the goal of zero emissions from all new vehicles by 2035. The EU’s decision deeply influences the fate of the automotive sector, a key pillar of its economy: it represents over 7% of GDP, and it is the largest private investor in research and development. The first aim of this paper is to analyse the state-of-the-art electrification of road transport in the European Union, with a focus on the passenger car segment. Consequently, a framework to analyse the environmental benefits of vehicle electrification is proposed (second aim), according to the carbon footprint approach in four different scenarios. Finally, the main implications of this transition for the European automotive industry have been highlighted (third aim), pinpointing a proactive approach of companies in the electrification process to ensure the real achievement of climate goals. So far, the EU’s decarbonization process has been driven by regulation, with a top-down approach that has forced companies to deal with environmental issues. The electric transition represents a further driver of innovation, a “necessary opportunity” for companies in the automotive sector.

Knowledge transfer involves the incorporation of knowledge into the practices of social and collective learning processes. This transfer occurs through social practices (Von Krogh, 2012) and both tacit and explicit means (Nonaka and Takenchi, 1995), involving both individual and organizational actors. Universities contribute to this process through the “Third Mission” (Centobelli et al., 2019; Paoloni et al., 2019; Croce et al., 2014), which includes scientific, technological, cultural transfer, and productive transformations of knowledge. This transformation finds its expression in the establishment of start-ups. However, despite efforts, a gender gap persists in the presence of women-led start-ups in Italy (Modaffari and della Corte, 2022; Modaffari and Manzo, 2022, 2023; Modaffari et al., 2023). Through a multi-case qualitative analysis, this study aims to investigate whether state universities in the Lazio region offer specific incentives for women-led start-ups and whether these incentives contribute to increasing the number of women-founded start-ups. The results highlight that, despite universities increasingly contributing to knowledge transfer, the gender gap remains strong. Despite the limitations imposed by the choice of universities to analyze, this study has the potential to enhance existing literature in gender studies and entrepreneurial universities, with particular emphasis on the domain of the third mission.

Academic research on ecosystems can be traced back to 1993, when Moore introduced the concept of the business ecosystem. Since then, various classifications of ecosystems have been proposed, including those related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge. Innovation ecosystems have been defined as dynamic networks of actors, resources, and activities that promote innovation and value creation. Conversely, entrepreneurial ecosystems involve entrepreneurs collaborating to promote economic growth. Finally, knowledge ecosystems involve organizations exchanging knowledge to generate innovation. In recent decades, innovation ecosystems have become particularly popular, with a growing academic interest and over 2,300 results on Scopus related to this topic. However, there has been a significant increase in definitions and a lack of clarity in their usage, making it crucial to define the concept of the innovation ecosystem. This article aims to provide an in-depth view of the topic by examining definitions, actors involved, motivations, and risks associated with collaboration in innovation ecosystems through a literature analysis.

This study investigates the potential risks and barriers that can impact the performance of startups engaged in collaborations with an incumbent firm within an innovation ecosystem. Employing a systematic literature review methodology we identified, discussed and interpreted, through the Gioia methodology, the main challenges faced by stratups when partnering with larger established organizations. Our findings revealed that risks can be summarized by a matrix based on the outcome of collaboration and its impact on the startup. Similarly, barriers are grouped into those that prevent collaboration begin and those that hinder its progress. This research contributes to innovation and entrepreneurial literature by providing a clear understanding of the dynamics that characterize the innovative collaboration of startups and established companies within innovation ecosystems.

This systematic literature review aims to explore the interplay between Knowledge Management (KM) and Digital Transformation (DT), identifying current research gaps and reviewing the theoretical and practical implications. Research method adhered to the updated PRISMA guidelines – Scopus and Web of Science databases were used for literature sourcing, applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure paper relevance and quality, which yielded 948 initial articles, later refined to 25 core studies. Results were synthesized through a short quantitative analysis and in-depth paper review, thematic categorization, highlighting the prevalence of literature reviews and the need for more empirical studies in the field. Notable findings include the three identified gaps – lack of cross disciplinary and case studies, absence of integrated frameworks, Insufficient focus on complex tools for technology adoption. All three of these gaps limit the research field, especially the potential impact in practice, and creation of integrated frameworks, that link all aspects of KM and DT, which are supported by technology, guide deliver new theoretical and practical value and make both the academia and businesses ready for transition to Industry 5.0.

The interaction between digital technologies and people is a highly debated topic at both policy and academic levels. The recent proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in various organisational practices creates not only new opportunities, but also new challenges in terms of work design and ethical considerations, thus increasing the need to explore the use and impact of these new technologies on organisational models and work practices. Therefore, this article aims to contribute to the evolving discourse on work design by conducting a structured literature review (SLR) focusing on the use and implications of artificial intelligence in organisational models and work practices. By synthesising findings from existing research, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of AI adoption and its implications for work design.

This study investigates the correlation between gender diversity and the attainment of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) objectives within the fashion and beauty sector, using the ESG Perception Index (Cambrea et al., 2023) as an evaluative tool. The importance of ESG factors has grown significantly across industries, with stakeholders demanding sustainable practices and responsible resource management. The fashion and beauty industry, given its vast audience and global impact, is no exception. In academia, the integration of ESG factors in this sector has been extensively analysed, focusing on ethical implications and sustainability (Niinimäki et al., 2020). Environmental sustainability in fashion necessitates rethinking production and consumption models towards circular practices (Niinimäki et al., 2020), while social sustainability demands fair working conditions throughout the supply chain (Joergens, 2006). Governance in this industry can positively influence sustainability practices (Henninger et al., 2016). ESG initiatives are seen as adding value to fashion and beauty companies by enhancing brand image, fostering innovation, and bolstering long-term resilience (Klettner, et al., 2014). Research, such as that by Eccles, Ioannou, and Serafeim (2014), indicates a positive correlation between sustainable practices and financial performance. This study particularly examines female leadership dynamics, board gender diversity, and corporate diversity policies (Cosentino and Paoloni, 2021) to understand their impact on the ESG Perception Index and corporate sustainability. Empirical methodology, involving data collection and statistical analysis (Dal Mas and Paoloni, 2020), is employed on a representative sample of fashion and beauty companies. Initial findings suggest that companies with greater gender diversity perform better on the ESG Perception Index (Gurol and Lagasio, 2023) and that women in decision-making roles positively affect ESG perception (Issa and Hanaysha, 2023). The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the ESG Perception Index and its analysis of the link between gender diversity and ESG objectives in the fashion and beauty sector (Nicolò et al., 2022). While acknowledging limitations such as sample size and representativeness (Wan Mohammad et al., 2023), preliminary results indicate a positive influence of gender diversity on the ESG Perception Index in this industry. This underscores the importance of inclusive policies and diverse leadership for enhancing sustainability perceptions and achieving long-term benefits in reputation and financial performance, as measured by the ESG Perception Index (Yadav and Prashar, 2023).

The entrepreneurial journey can be described as a dynamic process that may often begin with the inception of a start-up and, with the right strategies and resources, transitions into a scale-up. This transition could be characterised by a shift from establishing a market presence to expanding and growing in the market, often requiring a change in business models, strategies, and operations (Autio et al., 2014). This paper aims to explore the role of online start-up communities on the entrepreneurial journey, and how they can facilitate knowledge-driven innovation and co-creation value growth as startups evolve into scale-ups. In today’s digital age, online start-up communities may have emerged as pivotal players in this entrepreneurial landscape, offering a plethora of opportunities for knowledge-driven innovation and co-creation value growth. Online start-up communities may have become an indispensable virtual platform in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, where individuals with shared interests or goals can interact, collaborate, and exchange information (Porter and Donthu, 2008). These platforms can provide digital entrepreneurs with access to a vast pool of knowledge, resources, connections, and potential collaborators, enabling them to tap into collective intelligence and co-create value with their stakeholders (Alavi, 2015). Many popular platforms like LinkedIn, online community platforms, and industry-specific forums can allow entrepreneurs to connect with experts, potential collaborators, and even customers, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. The digital entrepreneurs can gain exposure to external information through these communities, and it can help them shape their evaluation of entrepreneurial opportunities.

Despite the greater role in the design and execution of research processes in the last 20 years, and a sincere appreciation by many researchers who have valued them as important pieces in the achievement of their scientific merits, research managers (RMs) at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) continue to be considered, in general, as personnel linked to the area of administration, normally linked to the bureaucratic tasks and, in most cases, without a clear place in the structure of public research organizations, with temporary contracts and without any associated career development. However, this situation has reached an inflexion point in Europe in the years 2022 and 2023, motivated by the appearance of various laws and policies that reinforce the figure of RMs at HEIs and make their role visible in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation Systems. RMs play a crucial role in planning, coordinating and executing research activities. The growing complexity in the public funding environment forces researchers to carry out a number of complementary tasks to their own research activities that they cannot assume without the corresponding specialization. The complexity of these tasks gives rise to the existence of numerous research manager profiles who participate in the research process alongside the researchers. This variety of professional profiles makes it very difficult to establish a definition of the activities carried out by a RM or, in other words, to establish which functions within the research process should be considered as belonging to a RM and which should correspond to the scope of the researchers, on the one hand, or of the administration staff, on the other. This difficulty in framing the profile of a RMr contributes to their lack of recognition. In this paper we review how the problem of RMs in Europe is addressed, and we delve into the Spanish case at HEIs. Through the results of different surveys answered by RMs from all over Europe, and following review of the Spanish case, we are able to answer the question of whether the recognition of RMs is possible and what issues need to be addressed in the Spanish landscape to achieve it. The work developed shows how it is necessary to act on 5 lines of action to reach the recognition of research management professionals at HEIs, which are: Establishment of Standards, Certification and Accreditation, Recognition and Career Development, Networks and Collaborations, Outreach and Communication,.

Organisations and supply systems have evolved continuously and profoundly over time due to various socio-economic and technological revolutions that altered how businesses operate, affecting their organisational configuration, objectives, and relationships (Nedelko, 2021). Besides, commercial and social links in organisations have become global, making their integration a critical component for a successful business also for the spread of social media use (Ghadge et al., 2019; Mustafa & Modares, 2019). But, higher levels of cooperation and integration create opportunities to increase one’s exposure to cybersecurity risks (Yoon et al., 2017). Furthermore, in the last years, there has been a disruptive diffusion in the use of cutting-edge Information Technology (IT), giving rise to the diffusion of digital knowledge in organisations and the necessity to manage and protect this critical and precious resource (Annarelli et al., 2020; Cerchione et al., 2024). Organisations dealing with this new resource, are more exposed to cyberattacks since they are iper connected with the world, but designed and built with an inadequate awareness of cyber resilience aspects (Katsumata et al., 2010; Mourtzis et al., 2016). In this sense, the illicit acquisition of sensitive data, and their processing through intelligent systems, can result in the possession of digital knowledge of the system by unauthorised persons who can maliciously use that knowledge (Almarhabi et al., 2023; Rao et al., 2019; Singh, 2021). To date, there are no complete overviews of how digital KM can impact cybersecurity aspects; for this reason, this research aims to identify the key points of this system and to generate a frame that is capable of supporting researchers in the analysis and evaluations of digital KM processes from a cyber security perspective. In order to create a frame that is homogeneous and applicable in a general way, the lens of framing theory was used to analyse the various perspectives that emerged from the analysis of the literature on cybersecurity and digital KM (Cornelissen & Werner, 2014). This frame can help in the identification of the main drivers and possible future challenges in analysing how digital knowledge is managed at various levels in the field of cybersecurity: in a data-based society, the way to organise and protect digital aspects of knowledge and learn by them will be crucial for the success of the society.

Italy is one of the largest producers of olive oil. Italy is the second world producer and the second country for exports. The territorial distribution shows the areas with the highest olive growing vocation are concentrated in Southern Italy. By number of farms Calabria ranks third among Italian regions, and Calabria is the second region in Italy for oil production (including organic) after Puglia. The presence of women-owned businesses in the olive oil industry is significant: within the sector, women-owned businesses are around 30% of the total and reach 41% in Calabria. Firms in the olive oil industry, as well as all businesses, are called to achieve sustainable development objectives. Taking this into account, the research aims to investigate, on the one hand, what innovations would enable olive farms and mills to be more sustainable. On the other hand, the research aims, through the analysis of some business cases, to investigate the propensity of women’s firms to make sustainability-oriented innovation. Results show, on the one hand, the attention of women entrepreneurs to sustainable cultivation and production practices; on the other hand, they highlight how eco-sustainability and respect for biodiversity represent factors capable of giving the extra virgin olive oil product a high quality, recognized worldwide. However, the companies studied show they pursue sustainability predominantly through the recovery and enhancement of native cultivars and through the conservation of biodiversity. Other large investments in sustainability-oriented innovations are, however, desirable; investments that are difficult to be made by individual enterprises but possible if done in cooperation. It emerges that networking is extremely important to grow and create a business culture that can innovate. There is a need to accompany and support olive-growing and oil-producing enterprises in making investments to increase their sustainability, including by promoting cooperation among enterprises.

The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between information and communication technologies (ICTs), digital skills, internal and external information integration and hospital resources and to analyse the moderating effects of operational contingencies in terms of operational efficiency and service complexity, adopting the contingent resource-based view perspective. The study utilizes a Hierarchical Moderated Regression Analysis, to test hypotheses using mixed data collection with primary data on ICTs, hospital resilience, digital skills, and internal and external information integration, along with secondary data on operational contingencies. Our findings reveal that all the resources and capabilities significantly impact hospital resilience. Notably, operational contingencies, such as service complexity and operational efficiency, moderate the relationships between digital skills, ICTs, and hospital resilience. These results underscore the importance of considering operational factors in the development of strategies to enhance hospital resilience. Our study contributes to the understanding of how hospitals can navigate crises effectively by leveraging technology, skills, and operational efficiencies to bolster their resilience.

Due to the complexity and variability of society, innovation is necessary to introduce changes that support social growth. At the same time, to support innovation it is necessary to formalize new concepts and approaches such as ecosystems (Bifulco et al., 2016). The research aims to investigate how the participation of people with disabilities in cultural ecosystems can give rise to innovative forms of governance that protect the right to cultural enjoyment for people with disabilities and which at the same time represent an innovation in the field of cultural governance. To analyze this phenomenon the authors chose to use the qualitative methodology of the single case study (Creswell, 2018) represented by the “More than Words” project. The results of the research highlight an effective increase in social and cultural value due to the participation of people with disabilities in the cultural ecosystem created with the aim of audience development of the target group of people with disabilities.

In Italy, family businesses play a fundamental role. Approximately 40% of the top 100 Italian groups by turnover are controlled by the same family lineage and of these almost 90% have a family CEO, the highest value in Europe even if it is not much different from the others. In this context, the ability to generate knowledge management (KM), share it and make it become company assets is of strategic importance to remain competitive on the market also in light of the latest events linked to the pandemic. If in the past, the literature on KM was theoretically divided with an imbalance on the hard approach. Today a considerable weight concerns the soft approach, based on the management of skills and relationships between organizations and their environment as a means of generating new capabilities. Training and learning are ultimately fundamental processes for activating transformation and innovation actions and also for stimulating corporate creativity, which is increasingly fueled by establishing interconnections with different disciplinary fields, social and human experiences. The paper is aimed at verifying in the field what emerged from the Tagliacarne-Unioncamere (2023) on family businesses using a case study. In the Mosaic model it is required to specify four building blocks are always present in the business model of each company. Training and learning, in addition to improving the skills of the individual, represent a generative process for each person, which goes far beyond the acquisition of new knowledge. Only with strong attention to these issues and their corporate implications is it possible to create a context favorable to the birth of new ideas and the implementation of innovative projects where training and KM become the tool capable of improving people’s lives, the development of business and to advance society as a whole, creating a true learning society, based on solid entrepreneurial awareness.

Digital platforms have deeply integrated into society, significantly affecting markets, cultural practices, and institutional structures, leading to a reevaluation of political and legal frameworks to accommodate these changes. Their impact extends beyond merely reflecting societal changes; they actively shape and construct social norms and market dynamics at both individual (micro) and systemic (macro) levels. This influence manifests at different rates and organizational levels, from individual behaviors to large-scale institutional and market structures, potentially fostering innovation or creating vulnerabilities. Adopting a panarchy perspective, this work aims to explore digital platforms’ influence across multiple levels of organizing and time horizons, addressing a gap in the literature that often considers these impacts in isolation. The connectedness across these levels can determine a system’s resilience and its potential for transformation, particularly following crises. The study calls for an integrated approach to examine digital platforms, recognizing their roles as intricate components within a wider socioecological and sociotechnical network, and highlights the need to understand their long-term effects on socioecological and sociotechnical equilibria.

The present manuscript explores the intricate relationship between digital platforms, business model innovation (BMI) and collaborative endeavours amongst small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The authors are motivated by the growing relevance and importance of digital platforms which play a pivotal role in today’s business landscape, thereby deeply impacting products, services, operations and business strategy. Henceforth, SMEs are compelled to engage or embrace digital platforms in an attempt to strengthen their business model. Indeed, part of the scholarly literature underscores the role digital technologies have in nurturing BMI and organisational growth. Nonetheless, due to SMEs limited financial and human resources, it becomes challenging to establish their own digital platform and engage in BMI. Therefore, the foregoing entities can engage in collaborative endeavours such as partnerships and alliances to gain access to the necessary digital instruments and tools to lower the costs associated with BMI while accessing complementary resources and knowledge. However, despite the foregoing notions and concepts, the current body of scholarly literature lacks empirical evidence deepening our understanding of the interplay between digitalization and collaborative partnerships as enabling instruments to SMEs’ BMI. Henceforth, to address the foregoing research gap, the authors of this manuscript seek to gain intel into how cooperating with external stakeholders through a digital platform could impact SMEs’ BMI. Under the framework of dynamic capabilities as their theoretical framework, the authors employ a qualitative approach which focuses on 12 SMEs located within the Piedmont region, Italy. The authors conduct semi structured interviews with various members of the foregoing entities and have adopted the Gioia’ method to ensure this manuscript’s methodological rigour and replicability. This manuscript empirical results indicate that: i) partnering with digital platforms nurture the construction of relationship which promote BMI; ii) engaging with partnerships enhances SMEs’ financial and operational performance, thereby fostering BMI; iii) engaging with external stakeholders nurture SMEs’ technological development, thus fostering BMI; and iv) partnering with digital platforms nurtures environmental and social considerations, thereby fostering BMI to address the foregoing notions. The current manuscript presents several predicted implications, both theoretical and practical, that warrant further exploration. Firstly, it enriches our comprehension of SMEs’ BMI in the context of digital platform partnerships, shedding light on previously unexplored aspects of this dynamic relationship. Secondly, it offers valuable insights for practitioners seeking to harness the potential of partnerships and digital platforms to cultivate their BMI and foster long-term sustainability. It is important to note that, due to space constraints and ongoing refinement of the interview and data collection processes, detailed discussions, theoretical implications, managerial insights, and conclusions will be elaborated upon in a forthcoming full-length paper.