Introduction
The Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025–2027 addresses, among other main global challenges, the digital transition and climate change. This plan has three key orientations for research and innovation: “green transition, digital transition and a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe” (European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, 2024, p. 3). In this period, “it is agreed to invest at least EUR 13 billion from Horizon Europe in core digital technologies” (European Commission: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, 2024, p. 6).
It is important to set priorities to reinforce investments in human capital, science and technology as well as align policies initiatives at different levels (local, national and regional). This requires the dialogue among a broad variety of stakeholders and design innovative strategies successfully navigate the green and digital transitions (Almunawar et al., 2022, 2023; Collin et al., 2023; Imjai et al., 2024; Lytras and Ordóñez de Pablos, 2008; Zhang et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2019, 2024).
Contents of the issue
The second issue Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management in 2025 contains a collection of seven papers addressing key topics for competitiveness of companies, governments and nations such as big data, entrepreneurship, e-payment, sustainability and innovative systems. Next, we will summarize the contents of the papers in this issue.
The first paper titled “The role of mobile money adoption in moderating the influence of access to finance in firm performance” (by Njinyah, Asongu and Jones) affirms that “Africa is becoming the fastest-growing continent despite significant challenges to accessing finance and the use of technology. This paper aims to examine the direct effect of mobile money adoption on firm performance and its moderation effect by examining how it moderates the effect of access to finance on firm performance. Quantitative data were obtained from the World Bank Enterprise Survey for Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were done to test the hypotheses. The main findings show a negative significant relationship between mobile money adoption and firm performance, while access to finance had a positive relationship. The moderation effect though positive was not significant. Research examining the effect of mobile money adoption in Africa on firm performance is limited, and existing studies have focused on the determinants of mobile money usage. By examining the direct and contingency effect on other determinants of firm performance, this research makes both theoretical and practical contributions. Theoretically, this research shows that not all strategic resources are valuable in improving firm performance. Practically, this research provides insights into how technology could be embedded into business processes for firms to benefit from such technology.”
The paper titled “Big Data Readiness in the Public Sector: An Assessment Model and Insights from Indonesian Local Governments” (by Ariansyah, Setiawan, Hikmaturokhman, Ardison and Walujo) presents “an assessment model to measure big data readiness in the public sector, specifically targeting local governments at the provincial and city/regency levels. Additionally, the study aims to gain valuable insights into the readiness of selected local governments in Indonesia by using the established assessment model. This study uses a mixed-method approach, using focus group discussions (FGDs), surveys and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to establish the assessment model. The FGDs involve gathering perspectives on readiness variables from experts in academia, government and practice, whereas the survey collects data from a sample of selected local governments using a questionnaire developed based on the variables obtained in FGDs. The EFA is used on survey data to condense the variables into a smaller set of dimensions or factors. Ultimately, the assessment model is applied to evaluate the level of big data readiness among the selected Indonesian local governments. FGDs identify 32 essential variables for evaluating the readiness of local governments to adopt big data. Subsequently, EFA reduces this number by five and organizes the remaining variables into four factors: big data strategy, policy and collaboration, infrastructure and human resources and data collection and utilization. The application of the assessment model reveals that the overall readiness for big data in the selected local governments is primarily moderate, with those in the Java cluster displaying higher readiness. In addition, the data collection and utilization factor achieves the highest score among the four factors.”
The paper titled “Is Mypertamina a Solution or Problem Maker? Developing Customer Trust to Answer” (by Riofita) presents a study that “aims to develop customer trust through information quality, customer awareness, and perceived value. This study is motivated by the hustle and bustle occurred as the result of the socialization of MyPertamina, a digital payment service for subsidized fuel customers in 11 areas of 4 provinces in Indonesia. The hustle and bustle can be viewed as customer distrust of MyPertamina. However, customer trust is a business success key. Is MyPertamina a solution or problem maker for customers to buy subsidized fuel?”
The paper titled “Young technopreneur ventures’ agility and competitiveness in Malaysia: role of inhibitors” (by Halim, Ahmad and Waqas) presents a study focused on young technopreneurs in Malaysia that found that “technopreneurs face four significant problems that have an impact on their business agility and competitiveness. These four factors are as follows: the entrepreneur’s skills and preparedness; their organization’s insufficient capabilities and talent to deal with the challenges; a lack of support mechanisms from relevant institutions; and, finally, the rapidly changing business environment in terms of technology and competition.”
The paper titled “E-Payment Adoption and Utilization among Micro-Entrepreneurs: A Comparative Analysis between Indonesia and Malaysia” (by Trianto, Nik Azman and Masrizal) affirms that “the development of financial technology (fintech), especially digital payments (e-payments), aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of economic transactions. This study aims to see the extent to which microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia take advantage of the existence of e-payments in developing their business and the factors that influence the adoption of e-payments. This study uses qualitative and quantitative approach. For quantitative approach, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 4.0) was used to analyze the data. Using the nonprobability convenient sampling technique, this study collected 400 respondents from microenterprises in Indonesia and Malaysia in various regions. Most of the microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia have used fintech platforms, especially e-wallet and ATM debit. However, for quick response code-based fintech for business transactions, most microentrepreneurs have not taken advantage of the platform. Then the results of the digital payment adoption factor also differ for each country.”
The paper titled “Cashless Vietnam: A Study on Intention and Adoption of Cashless Payment” (by Dieu, Al Mamun, Nguyen and Naznen) presents a study that “aims to identify factors that affect the intention and actual adoption of cashless payment (ACP) among Vietnamese youths. Extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model with two impelling factors (perceived trust [PTR] and lifestyle compatibility [LCM]), this study also examined the mediating effect of intention to adopt cashless payment (ICP) on the relationships of UTAUT model components with the actual ACP.All data were collected online from 422 Vietnamese youths through online survey, and partial least squares structural equation modelling was performed to analyse the data. The study’s results illustrated the positive and significant effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, LCM and PTR on ICP. However, social influence was found to exhibit a negative effect on ICP. Furthermore, ICP was found to contribute no mediation effects on the relationships of any of the components with the actual AC.”
The paper titled “Achieving Sustainability through the Integration of Lean, agile, and innovative systems: Implications for Indian Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)” (by Babber and Mittal) discusses the results of a study that analyzes “how the incorporation and use of leanness, agility and innovation in Indian manufacturing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affect their bottom lines and how much these factors contribute to the MSMEs’ ability to meet their long-term sustainability goals. The suggested model was subjected to data validation and additional empirical validation using a sample of 411 Indian manufacturing MSMEs. The analysis of construct measures is conducted through the utilization of confirmatory factor analysis, a statistical technique that is grounded in the theoretical framework of structural equation modeling (SEM). In addition, path model analysis was applied for the purpose of validating the assumptions that were included in the structural models. Consistent with the proposed model, the findings of this study demonstrate that leanness, agility and innovation have a substantial favorable impact on the sustainability of a company’s performance. These findings may be helpful in gaining professionals, academics and policymakers to acknowledge the significance of leanness, agility and innovation in enhancing the long-term sustainability of MSMEs and enhancing the overall performance of a particular company. This research excluded the service industries-based research papers.”
