A Scientific Perspective on SME Digital Transformation: IDLab Seminar

On January 31, 2025, the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) hosted a scientific seminar focused on the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The presentation was led by Viktor Krakovich, with contributions from Evgeniya Shenkman, Yulia Naidenova, and Elena Shakina. The research topic was "Mapping SME Digital Transformation: A Decade of Academic Debates."

In their presentation, the authors examined the academic discourse surrounding SME digital transformation over the past twenty years. Their study utilized BERTopic, a state-of-the-art neural network model designed to understand text meanings, uncover hidden patterns, and categorize information by topic. Unlike traditional analysis methods that rely on keyword searches, BERTopic comprehends context, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the evolution of scientific fields. Using this approach, the researchers analyzed around 1,500 articles, identifying key trends, regional variations, and the most promising areas of research in SME digital transformation.

The speaker emphasized that while digital transformation impacts all aspects of entrepreneurship, it poses particular challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises due to their limited resources and the necessity to adapt to changes in the business landscape. The analysis of academic publications highlighted several critical research areas, including digital business models, artificial intelligence, financial technologies, digital market ecosystems, and innovative management strategies.

The seminar also placed special emphasis on international contributions to this topic. According to the data presented, the highest number of publications came from researchers in China, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States, with Asian countries showing an increasing interest in SME digitalization.
Participants engaged in discussions about the key challenges and opportunities related to digital transformation, as well as potential avenues for future research. The seminar wrapped up with a lively QA session, where attendees posed questions regarding the research methodology and interpretation of findings.

This study was part of a project funded by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), 23-78-10149 "Factors of SME Resource Intensification under External Uncertainty."