Digitalization as a driver of sustainable regional entrepreneurship: a qualitative case study of European IT companies

Authors

  • Viktoriya Kulyk Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic National University
  • Dagmar Škodová Parmová University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
  • Milan Jílek University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
  • Lidiia Piddubna O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26906/EiR.2026.1%20(100).4382

Keywords:

digitalization, sustainable development, regional entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial efficiency, innovation management, European digital economy

Abstract

The article examines digitalization as a structural driver of sustainable regional entrepreneurship. It identifies the strategic role of large IT companies in strengthening innovation ecosystems and enhancing entrepreneurial efficiency. The study analyses the depth of digital integration, ecosystem coordination, sustainability orientation, and long-term regional effects based on a qualitative comparative case study of leading European technology firms. It reveals that advanced digital infrastructures stimulate innovation diffusion and regional resilience. Particular attention is paid to ecosystem orchestration models and their contribution to sustainable competitiveness. The research substantiates the interdependence between digital transformation and balanced regional development.

Author Biographies

  • Viktoriya Kulyk, Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic National University

    Doctor of Economics, Professor of the Department of Management and Logistics

  • Dagmar Škodová Parmová, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

    Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Economics and Economy

  • Milan Jílek, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

    Associate Professor of the Department of Accounting and Finances

  • Lidiia Piddubna, O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv

    Candidate of Philosophy, Associate Professor Department of Automation and Computer-Integrated Technologies

References

1. Cheng, J., Wu, M., Liu, B., Luo, W., & Wang, H. (2025). How economic high-quality development affects entrepreneurial efficiency promotions? A multilevel analysis. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2590866

2. Kulyk, V., Škodová Parmová, D., & Jílek, M. (2025). Organizational efficiency in the context of e-business: Evidence from Ukrainian companies. Problems and Perspectives in Management, no. 23(3), pp. 457–468. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(3).2025.33

3. Kulyk, V. A. (2025). Tsyfrovi zahrozy u biznes-seredovyshchi u konteksti Tsilei staloho rozvytku [Digital threats in the business environment in the context of Sustainable Development Goals]. Efektyvna ekonomika, no. 7.

4. Tóth-Pajor, Á., Bedő, Z., & Csapi, V. (2023). Digitalization in entrepreneurship education and its effect on entrepreneurial capacity building. Cogent Business & Management, no. 10(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2210891

5. Hasan, M., Jannah, M., Supatminingsih, T., Ahmad, M. I. S., Sangkala, M., Najib, M., & Elpisah. (2024). Understanding the role of financial literacy, entrepreneurial literacy, and digital economic literacy on entrepreneurial creativity and MSMEs success: A knowledge-based view perspective. Cogent Business & Management, no. 11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2433708

6. Zahara, Z., Ikhsan, I., Santi, I. N., & Farid, F. (2023). Entrepreneurial marketing and marketing performance through digital marketing capabilities of SMEs in post-pandemic recovery. Cogent Business & Management, no. 10(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2204592

7. Chooset, N., & Sukhabot, S. (2025). Developing entrepreneurial marketing dimensions for SMEs in the digital era: A grounded theory approach. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2480748

8. Ismail, I. J., & Rashidi, F. U. (2025). Linking dynamic entrepreneurial capabilities and behavioral intentions to adopt FinTech in small and medium enterprises through digital financial innovation. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2470915

9. Peter, S., Elangovan, G., & Gupta, A. (2025). Digital engagement in financial inclusion for bridging the gendered entrepreneurial financial gap: Evidence from India. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2518492

10. Alsharah, H. (2025). Innovative horizons: The impact of AI on entrepreneurial performance. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2533433

11. Rahman, P. M., Akhtar, S., Babar Khan, S., Khan, M., M., M., & Afjal, M. (2025). Driving efficiency through innovation: Exploring dynamic capabilities in Indian manufacturing small and medium scale enterprise. Cogent Business & Management, no. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2485402

12. Mai, K. N., & Nguyen, V. T. (2023). Entrepreneurial ecosystem affects organisational learning, creativity and success. Cogent Business & Management, no. 10(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2260125

13. Astuty, E., Sudirman, I. D., & Aryanto, R. (2024). Sustainable resilience strategy: Unleash the micro-businesses’ potential in the digitalization and sustainability era. Cogent Business & Management, no. 11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2313672

14. Artelaris, P., & Mavrommatis, G. (2026). Territorial Agenda 2030, spatial justice, and the social investment turn: A capabilities approach perspective. European Planning Studies, pp. 1–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2026.2626451

15. Breau, S., & Marchand, Y. (2026). Mapping regional disparities in labour market risk and exposure to automation in Canada. Regional Studies, no. 60(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2026.2615976

16. Tantoh, H. B., McKay, T. J. K., & Leonard, L. (2026). Community-led development and community-based natural resource management: Best practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. South African Geographical Journal, no. 108(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2026.2630955

1. Cheng J., Wu M., Liu B., Luo W., Wang H. How economic high-quality development affects entrepreneurial efficiency promotions? A multilevel analysis. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2590866

2. Kulyk V., Škodová Parmová D., Jílek M. Organizational efficiency in the context of e-business: Evidence from Ukrainian companies. Problems and Perspectives in Management. 2025. Vol. 23, № 3. P. 457–468. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(3).2025.33

3. Кулик В. А. Цифрові загрози у бізнес-середовищі у контексті Цілей сталого розвитку. Ефективна економіка. 2025. Т. 7. [Kulyk V. A. Digital threats in the business environment in the context of Sustainable Development Goals. Efektyvna ekonomika. 2025. Vol. 7.]

4. Tóth-Pajor Á., Bedő Z., Csapi V. Digitalization in entrepreneurship education and its effect on entrepreneurial capacity building. Cogent Business & Management. 2023. Vol. 10(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2210891

5. Hasan M., Jannah M., Supatminingsih T., Ahmad M. I. S., Sangkala M., Najib M., Elpisah. Understanding the role of financial literacy, entrepreneurial literacy, and digital economic literacy on entrepreneurial creativity and MSMEs success: a knowledge-based view perspective. Cogent Business & Management. 2024. Vol. 11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2433708

6. Zahara Z., Ikhsan, Santi I. N., Farid. Entrepreneurial marketing and marketing performance through digital marketing capabilities of SMEs in post-pandemic recovery. Cogent Business & Management. 2023. Vol. 10(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2204592

7. Chooset N., Sukhabot S. Developing entrepreneurial marketing dimensions for SMEs in the digital era: a grounded theory approach. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2480748

8. Ismail I. J., Rashidi F. U. Linking dynamic entrepreneurial capabilities and behavioral intentions to adopt FinTech in small and medium enterprises through digital financial innovation. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2470915

9. Peter S., Elangovan G., Gupta A. Digital engagement in financial inclusion for bridging the gendered entrepreneurial financial gap: evidence from India. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2518492

10. Alsharah H. Innovative horizons: the impact of AI on entrepreneurial performance. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2533433

11. Rahman P. M., Akhtar S., Babar Khan S., Khan M., M M., Afjal M. Driving efficiency through innovation: exploring dynamic capabilities in Indian manufacturing small and medium scale enterprise. Cogent Business & Management. 2025. Vol. 12(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2485402

12. Mai K. N., Nguyen V. T. Entrepreneurial ecosystem affects organisational learning, creativity and success. Cogent Business & Management. 2023. Vol. 10(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2260125

13. Astuty E., Sudirman I. D., Aryanto R. Sustainable resilience strategy: unleash the micro-businesses’ potential in the digitalization and sustainability era. Cogent Business & Management. 2024. Vol. 11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2313672

14. Artelaris P., Mavrommatis G. Territorial Agenda 2030, spatial justice, and the social investment turn: a capabilities approach perspective. European Planning Studies. 2026. P. 1–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2026.2626451

15. Breau S., Marchand Y. Mapping regional disparities in labour market risk and exposure to automation in Canada. Regional Studies. 2026. Vol. 60(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2026.2615976

16. Tantoh H. B., McKay T. J. K., Leonard L. Community-led development and community-based natural resource management: best practice in Sub-Saharan Africa. South African Geographical Journal. 2026. Vol. 108(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03736245.2026.2630955

Downloads

Published

2026-03-27

Issue

No. 1 (100) (2026): Economics and region

Section

ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Вікторія Кулик, Дагмар Шкодова Пармова, Мілан Їлек, Лідія Піддубна

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)