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Coopetition, digital innovation, and sustainable performance in international digital ventures: Moderating role of institutional environment

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  • Ranjan, Piyush
  • Rai, Shivam

Abstract

While cooperation among competitors is a potential strategy for ventures seeking sustainability in unpredictable institutional conditions, there is less evidence of the impact of competition on sustainable performance during the international expansion of digital ventures. This research addresses the knowledge gap by creating a conceptual model to determine the differentiating effects of coopetiton on environmental and economic performance. The model also examines the mediating influence of digital innovation in the link between coopetition and sustainable performance and investigates the moderating role of institutional environments. The PLS-SEM analysis is performed on two-wave survey data collected from 496 Indian high-tech ventures. Our empirical results demonstrate coopetition has a dual impact on sustainable performance, with a positive significant effect on environmental performance and a non-significant effect on economic performance. Interestingly, digital innovation has a full mediating influence on the relationship between coopetition and economic performance. Moreover, regulatory turbulence was found to attenuate the positive effect of coopetition on digital innovation, while policy support amplifies it. These findings present both theoretical and managerial implications for coopetition in the internationalization of digital ventures context.

Suggested Citation

  • Ranjan, Piyush & Rai, Shivam, 2026. "Coopetition, digital innovation, and sustainable performance in international digital ventures: Moderating role of institutional environment," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:35:y:2026:i:2:s096959312600003x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2026.102559
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