Mechanisms facilitating external knowledge flows in SMEs
| External source | Knowledge-flow mechanisms | Role in external knowledge flow | Key references |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customers and suppliers | Digital platforms; supply chain management; R&D collaboration between supply-chain members; organizational infrastructures and communication channels; CRM practices; use of ICT | These mechanisms create stable channels for exchanging market, operational and technical information with customers and suppliers, while helping to reduce organizational barriers to disruptive innovation. They enable SMEs to identify customer needs, leverage supplier expertise and access supply chain information. They also help transform this information into useful insights for improving products and processes | Adam and Alofaysan, 2023; Calabrese, 2002; He and Sun, 2023; Lin et al., 2010; Macpherson et al., 2005; Ndubisi et al., 2020; Vu et al., 2022 |
| Universities and R&D centers | Collaboration via support programs; creation of a technology company; collaborative R&D projects; patent cooperation networks; training programs; technology transfer services. | Through project collaboration, training, technology transfer, and cooperation on patents, SMEs can gain access to specialized knowledge and external technological resources that are difficult to develop in-house. In this way, these mechanisms help SMEs assimilate scientific and technological knowledge through organizational learning and apply it to innovation activities | Albis Salas et al., 2023; Battistella et al., 2023; Izushi, 2005; Kittilaksanawong and Ren, 2013; Kurdve et al., 2020; Rossoni et al., 2024 |
| Other organizations | Business networks; knowledge exchange with R&D teams; benchmarking operations against competitors; technology transfer agreements; cooperation through patents; strategic alliances | These mechanisms expand SMEs’ access to external knowledge beyond vertical and academic relationships. Business networks, strategic alliances, benchmarking and R&D team exchanges help SMEs share resources, compare practices and reduce the risks of innovation, while technology transfer agreements and patent cooperation promote the application and protection of external knowledge | Battistella et al., 2023; Forsman and Temel, 2016; Kamalrulzaman et al., 2021; Mazzucchelli et al., 2021; Saunila and Ukko, 2013; Wang et al., 2020; Zardini et al., 2023 |
| External source | Knowledge-flow mechanisms | Role in external knowledge flow | Key references |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customers and suppliers | Digital platforms; supply chain management; R&D collaboration between supply-chain members; organizational infrastructures and communication channels; | These mechanisms create stable channels for exchanging market, operational and technical information with customers and suppliers, while helping to reduce organizational barriers to disruptive innovation. They enable SMEs to identify customer needs, leverage supplier expertise and access supply chain information. They also help transform this information into useful insights for improving products and processes | |
| Universities and R&D centers | Collaboration via support programs; creation of a technology company; collaborative R&D projects; patent cooperation networks; training programs; technology transfer services. | Through project collaboration, training, technology transfer, and cooperation on patents, SMEs can gain access to specialized knowledge and external technological resources that are difficult to develop in-house. In this way, these mechanisms help SMEs assimilate scientific and technological knowledge through organizational learning and apply it to innovation activities | |
| Other organizations | Business networks; knowledge exchange with R&D teams; benchmarking operations against competitors; technology transfer agreements; cooperation through patents; strategic alliances | These mechanisms expand SMEs’ access to external knowledge beyond vertical and academic relationships. Business networks, strategic alliances, benchmarking and R&D team exchanges help SMEs share resources, compare practices and reduce the risks of innovation, while technology transfer agreements and patent cooperation promote the application and protection of external knowledge |
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