Digital Platforms for the Development of International Innovative Entrepreneurship Based on the Enterprise Europe Network
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15421/cims.5.329Keywords:
open innovation, innovation ecosystem, paradox of openness, technology transfer, SME internationalization, transaction typologyAbstract
Purpose. The main objectives of the study are to consider approaches to expanding the international system of information and organizational relations in developing international innovative entrepreneurship based on the Enterprise Europe Network. Design / Method / Approach. The methodological framework of the study is based on utilizing the Triple Helix Space (THS) and the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) application to structuring the business model of the Enterprise Europe Network; Findings .The article proposes new directions for expanding the international system of information and organizational relations based on the Enterprise Europe Network by specific transactions such as: (i) expanding the production or distribution of products in international markets; (ii) gaining access to new international markets; (iii) finding the technology needed to innovate; (iv) collaborating in research projects. Theoretical Implications As a result of the study, a business model describing the operation and relationships based on the Enterprise Europe Network has been structured. Practical Implications. The proposed model allows entrepreneurs to promote their innovative development and enter international markets using the digital platform of the Enterprise Europe Network. This improves the efficiency of technology and knowledge transfer for sole proprietorships and small enterprises. Originality / Value. As a result of studying the state of application of digital platforms used for the development of international innovative entrepreneurship, it has been established that the use of the platforms is associated with the manifestation of the paradox of openness. Solving the problem of openness for the Enterprise Europe Network is associated with the creation of a network of autonomous and geographically distributed subsidiary platforms. Research Limitations / Future Research. Future research may focus on the relationship between the European Entrepreneurship Network and Small Business Development Centers in the USA. Article Type. Conceptual Paper.
Downloads
References
Akrich, M. (2023). Actor Network Theory, Bruno Latour, and the CSI. Social Studies of Science, 53(2), 169–173. https://doi.org/10.1177/03063127231158102
Anwar, M., Scheffler, M. A., & Clauss, T. (2024). Digital Capabilities, Their Role in Business Model Innovativeness, and the Internationalization of SMEs. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 4131–4143. https://doi.org/10.1109/tem.2022.3229049
Appiah, E. K., Gabrielsson, P., & Rialp Criado, A. (2025). The role of digitalization in early internationalization Research: A systematic literature review and future research directions. Journal of Business Research, 186, 115043. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.115043
Araújo, C., & Teixeira, A. (2014). Determinants of International Technology Transfer: an Empirical Analysis of the Enterprise Europe Network. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 9(3), 120–134. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-27242014000300009
Audretsch, D., Colombelli, A., Grilli, L., Minola, T., & Rasmussen, E. (2020). Innovative start-ups and policy initiatives. Research Policy, 49(10), 104027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.104027
Benlian, A., Hilkert, D., & Hess, T. (2015). How open is this Platform? The Meaning and Measurement of Platform Openness from the Complementers’ Perspective. Journal of Information Technology, 30(3), 209–228. https://doi.org/10.1057/jit.2015.6
Brasseur, T.-M., Strauss, C., & Mladenow, A. (2017). Business model innovation to support smart manufacturing. In AMCIS 2017 Workshop on Smart Manufacturing Proceedings (Paper 9). AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). https://aisel.aisnet.org/sigbd2017/9
Broekhuizen, T. L. J., Emrich, O., Gijsenberg, M. J., Broekhuis, M., Donkers, B., & Sloot, L. M. (2021). Digital platform openness: Drivers, dimensions and outcomes. Journal of Business Research, 122, 902–914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.001
Caputo, F., Fiano, F., Riso, T., Romano, M., & Maalaoui, A. (2022). Digital platforms and international performance of Italian SMEs: an exploitation-based overview. International Marketing Review, 39(3), 568–585. https://doi.org/10.1108/imr-02-2021-0102
Crespo, N. F., Crespo, C. F., Silva, G. M., & Nicola, M. B. (2023). Innovation in times of crisis: The relevance of digitalization and early internationalization strategies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 188, 122283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122283
Cusumano, M. A., Gawer, A., & Yoffie, D. B. (2019). The business of platforms: Strategy in the age of digital competition, innovation, and power. Harper Business. https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=56021
Da Rocha, A., Neves da Fonseca, L., & Kogut, C. S. (2024). Small firm internationalization using digital platforms: an assessment and future research directions. International Marketing Review, 41(5), 981–1015. https://doi.org/10.1108/imr-10-2023-0280
de Reuver, M., Sørensen, C., & Basole, R. C. (2018). The Digital Platform: A Research Agenda. Journal of Information Technology, 33(2), 124–135. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41265-016-0033-3
Eckhardt, J. T., Ciuchta, M. P., & Carpenter, M. (2018). Open innovation, information, and entrepreneurship within platform ecosystems. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 12(3), 369–391. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/sej.1298
Eshima, Y., & Anderson, B. S. (2016). Firm growth, adaptive capability, and entrepreneurial orientation. Strategic Management Journal, 38(3), 770–779. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2532
Etzkowitz, H., & Zhou, C. (2017). The triple helix: University–industry–government innovation and entrepreneurship. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315620183
European Union. (2025). Enterprise Europe Network. European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). https://een.ec.europa.eu
Franklin, M., Halevy, A., & Maier, D. (2005). From databases to dataspaces. ACM SIGMOD Record, 34(4), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1145/1107499.1107502
Fu, W., Wang, Q., & Zhao, X. (2017). The influence of platform service innovation on value co-creation activities and the network effect. Journal of Service Management, 28(2), 348–388. https://doi.org/10.1108/josm-10-2015-0347
Gontareva, I. V. (2016). Efficiency of organization of technologies transfer in the entrepreneurial activity. Vìsnik Lʹvìvsʹkoi komercìjnoi akademìi: Serìâ ekonomìčna, 50, 5–8. https://purl.org/scimeta/329.1
Gontareva, I., & Cohu, J. (2025). Opportunity and challenges of knowledge-based entrepreneurship in post-war Ukraine. Research in Business and Economics Journal, 17, 254010. https://aabri.com/manuscripts/254010.pdf
Gontareva, I., Babenko, V., Shmatko, N., Litvinov, O., & Obruch, H. (2020). The Model of Network Consulting Communication at the Early Stages of Entrepreneurship. WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, 16, 390–396. Portico. https://doi.org/10.37394/232015.2020.16.39
Gregory, R. W., Henfridsson, O., Kaganer, E., & Kyriakou, H. (2021). The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Data Network Effects for Creating User Value. Academy of Management Review, 46(3), 534–551. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2019.0178
Hossain, M., & Lassen, A. (2017). Q&A. How Do Digital Platforms for Ideas, Technologies, and Knowledge Transfer Act as Enablers for Digital Transformation? Technology Innovation Management Review, 7(9), 55–60. https://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1106
Krenn, M. L., & Chiarvesio, M. (2024). Business model innovation and internationalization: investigating the relationship through the dynamic states approach. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(6), 1067–1087. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsbed-06-2023-0247
Li, D., & Li, K. (2021). Effects of Digital Platform Openness on Recognition of Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Integration of Entrepreneurial Resources. Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, 2021, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1875715
Li, L., Su, F., Zhang, W., & Mao, J.-Y. (2017). Digital transformation by SME entrepreneurs: A capability perspective. Information Systems Journal, 28(6), 1129–1157. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12153
OECD. (2017). Key Issues for Digital Transformation in the G20. OECD Publishing. https://us.boell.org/sites/default/files/uploads/2017/02/g20-key-issues.pdf
OECD. (2019). OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2019. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/34907e9c-en
OECD. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19): SME policy responses. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/04440101-en
OECD. (2022). Business innovation statistics and indicators: Dataset. OECD. https://purl.org/scimeta/329.2
Ondrus, J., Gannamaneni, A., & Lyytinen, K. (2015). The Impact of Openness on the Market Potential of Multi-Sided Platforms: A Case Study of Mobile Payment Platforms. Journal of Information Technology, 30(3), 260–275. https://doi.org/10.1057/jit.2015.7
Parker, G., & Van Alstyne, M. (2018). Innovation, Openness, and Platform Control. Management Science, 64(7), 3015–3032. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2757
Pinto, H. (2017). Connecting the Triple Helix space: actor-network creation and institutionalisation of knowledge transfer offices. Triple Helix, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40604-017-0045-1
SBDC. (2025). About us. America's SBDC. https://americassbdc.org/about-us
Schmeiss, J., Hoelzle, K., & Tech, R. P. G. (2019). Designing Governance Mechanisms in Platform Ecosystems: Addressing the Paradox of Openness through Blockchain Technology. California Management Review, 62(1), 121–143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125619883618
Sembiring, R. N. A., Kesuma, S. A., Muda, I., & Syarif, F. (2025). Application Actor–Network Theory (2023-2025): A systematic Literature Review. Formosa Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 4(11), 5403–5416. https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v4i11.590
Shapira, P., Youtie, J., & Kay, L. (2011). Building capabilities for innovation in SMEs: a cross-country comparison of technology extension policies and programmes. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 3(3-4), 254–272. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijird.2011.040526
Singhai, S., Singh, R., Sardana, H. K., & Madhukar, A. (2021). Analysis of Factors Influencing Technology Transfer: A Structural Equation Modeling Based Approach. Sustainability, 13(10), 5600. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13105600
Van Dut, V. (2018). Subsidiary decision. making autonomy: review and future research frontier. Southeast Asia Review of Economics and Business, 1(1). http://sareb-journal.org/index.php/sareb/article/download/14/8
Vetterling, D. (2022). Platform Confusion: A Spotlight on the Concept of Platforms and Their Classification in the Context of Business Ecosystems. Business Engineering Institute St. Gallen. https://purl.org/scimeta/329.3
Wang, J., Guo, B., Wang, X., & Lou, S. (2020). Closed or open platform? the nature of platform and a qualitative comparative analysis of the performance effect of platform openness. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 44, 101007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2020.101007
Winsor, J. (2009, June 15). Crowdsourcing: What it means for innovation. BusinessWeek. https://purl.org/scimeta/329.4
Witek-Hajduk, M. K. (2021). Digital platforms' internationalisation and its disruptive impact on international business. In Disruptive Platforms (pp. 56-77). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003207481-4
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Iryna Gontareva, Jeff Cohu (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in the journal Challenges and Issues of Modern Science are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY) license. This means that you are free to:
- Share, copy, and redistribute the article in any medium or format
- Adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the article
as long as you provide appropriate credit to the original work, include the authors' names, article title, journal name, and indicate that the work is licensed under CC BY. Any use of the material should not imply endorsement by the authors or the journal.