Figure 4.
The framework centres on how small and medium-sized enterprises acquire knowledge from external collaboration and use it to increase innovation capabilities. Three collaboration routes surround this process. Collaboration with customers and suppliers supports knowledge acquisition through digital platforms, supply chain management, research and development collaboration between supply chain members, use of information and communication technologies, customer relationship management practices, and creation of organisational infrastructures and communication channels. Collaboration with other organisations supports knowledge exchange through business networks, knowledge exchange between research and development teams, benchmarking operations against competitors, technology transfer agreements, cooperation through patents, and strategic alliances. Collaboration with universities and research and development centres supports knowledge acquisition through support programmes, creation of a technological company, collaborative research and development projects, training programmes, patent cooperation networks, and technology transfer services. These routes enable knowledge flow from external sources, which aids small and medium-sized enterprises in acquiring knowledge and increasing their innovation capabilities.How SMEs can acquire knowledge and support the development of innovation capability
Source: Author’s own elaboration