University of Mohaghegh Ardabili
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Extended Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Considering the complex and dynamic environmental conditions, all firms need to create and apply effective skills for the firm's goals in order to continue their activities. On the other hand, with the use of new technologies and the digital platform, firms were required to adapt their goals in this direction. One of the variables that can guide firms in the direction of improving performance and is in line with today's technology platform and digital environment is related to technological entrepreneurship, because it is a leader in absorbing the value and innovative implementation of science and knowledge and can help the firm to reach directly its goals. Also, the use of digital technologies integrates new business ventures into business models and operations, leading to digital entrepreneurship through digital products, tools and platforms. In this regard, digitalization can accelerate sustainable changes and respond to environmental and governance challenges, while at the same time leading to improved performance by accessing opportunities. On the other hand, in a complex and changing world, innovation is a key factor for creating a competitive advantage that requires support and investment, because favorable innovation can lead to an increase in the share of firms. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of digitalization and innovation in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food, which has not been noticed by researchers in previous studies.
Material and Methods: The statistical population of this research includes Iranian knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food. The number of statistical population is equal to 480 firms, and the sample size was estimated 213, using Cochran’s formula. Data collection was done through a five-level Likert scale questionnaire and that 189 of them were analyzed. Several hypotheses were presented to investigate the relationships between the variables and the structural equation modeling method was used to analyze them. Finally, SPSS24 and SmartPLS3 software were used for data analysis.
Result: The output of the software showed that technological entrepreneurship has a positive and significant effect on the firm's growth at a confidence level of 99%. Also, the mediating role of digitalization in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and firm growth was obtained at a significant level of 99%. In addition, the mediating role of innovation in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and firm growth has been confirmed at the 99% level.
Conclusion: The contribution of this study from analyzes is to provide a new conceptual framework and fill the existing gap and provide practical solutions in line with the subject for the studied society. In line with the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food, this study carried out a survey that, considering today's complex and dynamic environment, used digitalization and innovation variables as mediating variables. It should be noted that researchers did not pay attention to this in previous studies. The result of the first hypothesis of the research showed that entrepreneurial initiatives facilitate decisions in line with corporate goals. Also, focusing on entrepreneurship based on strategic processes that deal with long-term goals can have a positive effect on firm performance, and on the other hand, according to research on technological entrepreneurship capability, it also leads to competitive advantage and economic prosperity of firms. Therefore, this study specifically showed that technological entrepreneurship is a key predictive factor for improving the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food. In line with the result of the second research hypothesis, the government can develop entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector by investing in infrastructures in the field of agriculture and by applying incentive policies such as removing or discounting taxes for investors. Based on this, knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture, and food, focusing on entrepreneurship with a technological platform, can digitalize their operational, process, and production processes, and the results showed that on digitalization can improve the growth of firms. Also, the result of the third hypothesis of the research shows that knowledge-based companies active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food by focusing on technological entrepreneurship can improve the innovation levels in their products and processes and develop performance and improve their market share. It should be noted that innovation and change have become important sources of competitive advantage for firms, and the desire for entrepreneurship also plays an important role in improving performance and ensuring the source of their growth. In general, this study showed that knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food by investing in technological entrepreneurship activities can have positive effects on their firm's growth. In the meantime, the existence of digitalization and innovation variables were identified as very important factors that can strengthen the foundations of the growth of the studied firms. The results of this research can help knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food in the direction of strategic and technological decisions for firm growth and performance improvement. Also, based on the results of the hypotheses, this study has provided several practical suggestions, which can be implemented in the studied firms.
Introduction and Objective: Considering the complex and dynamic environmental conditions, all firms need to create and apply effective skills for the firm's goals in order to continue their activities. On the other hand, with the use of new technologies and the digital platform, firms were required to adapt their goals in this direction. One of the variables that can guide firms in the direction of improving performance and is in line with today's technology platform and digital environment is related to technological entrepreneurship, because it is a leader in absorbing the value and innovative implementation of science and knowledge and can help the firm to reach directly its goals. Also, the use of digital technologies integrates new business ventures into business models and operations, leading to digital entrepreneurship through digital products, tools and platforms. In this regard, digitalization can accelerate sustainable changes and respond to environmental and governance challenges, while at the same time leading to improved performance by accessing opportunities. On the other hand, in a complex and changing world, innovation is a key factor for creating a competitive advantage that requires support and investment, because favorable innovation can lead to an increase in the share of firms. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of digitalization and innovation in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food, which has not been noticed by researchers in previous studies.
Material and Methods: The statistical population of this research includes Iranian knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food. The number of statistical population is equal to 480 firms, and the sample size was estimated 213, using Cochran’s formula. Data collection was done through a five-level Likert scale questionnaire and that 189 of them were analyzed. Several hypotheses were presented to investigate the relationships between the variables and the structural equation modeling method was used to analyze them. Finally, SPSS24 and SmartPLS3 software were used for data analysis.
Result: The output of the software showed that technological entrepreneurship has a positive and significant effect on the firm's growth at a confidence level of 99%. Also, the mediating role of digitalization in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and firm growth was obtained at a significant level of 99%. In addition, the mediating role of innovation in the relationship between technological entrepreneurship and firm growth has been confirmed at the 99% level.
Conclusion: The contribution of this study from analyzes is to provide a new conceptual framework and fill the existing gap and provide practical solutions in line with the subject for the studied society. In line with the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food, this study carried out a survey that, considering today's complex and dynamic environment, used digitalization and innovation variables as mediating variables. It should be noted that researchers did not pay attention to this in previous studies. The result of the first hypothesis of the research showed that entrepreneurial initiatives facilitate decisions in line with corporate goals. Also, focusing on entrepreneurship based on strategic processes that deal with long-term goals can have a positive effect on firm performance, and on the other hand, according to research on technological entrepreneurship capability, it also leads to competitive advantage and economic prosperity of firms. Therefore, this study specifically showed that technological entrepreneurship is a key predictive factor for improving the growth of knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food. In line with the result of the second research hypothesis, the government can develop entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector by investing in infrastructures in the field of agriculture and by applying incentive policies such as removing or discounting taxes for investors. Based on this, knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture, and food, focusing on entrepreneurship with a technological platform, can digitalize their operational, process, and production processes, and the results showed that on digitalization can improve the growth of firms. Also, the result of the third hypothesis of the research shows that knowledge-based companies active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food by focusing on technological entrepreneurship can improve the innovation levels in their products and processes and develop performance and improve their market share. It should be noted that innovation and change have become important sources of competitive advantage for firms, and the desire for entrepreneurship also plays an important role in improving performance and ensuring the source of their growth. In general, this study showed that knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food by investing in technological entrepreneurship activities can have positive effects on their firm's growth. In the meantime, the existence of digitalization and innovation variables were identified as very important factors that can strengthen the foundations of the growth of the studied firms. The results of this research can help knowledge-based firms active in the field of biotechnology, agriculture and food in the direction of strategic and technological decisions for firm growth and performance improvement. Also, based on the results of the hypotheses, this study has provided several practical suggestions, which can be implemented in the studied firms.
Keywords: Agricultural Industry, Digitalization, Firm Growth, Innovation, Knowledge-Based Firms, Technological Entrepreneurship
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