IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/tefoso/v214y2025ics0040162525000617.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can digital technology break the financing dilemma of innovative SMEs? Based on the perspective of enterprise innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Kang
  • Sun, Kang
  • Li, Yifei
  • Xie, Qian

Abstract

Based on Signaling theory, this paper examines the mechanisms and effects of SMEs adopting digital technology to alleviate their own financing constraints from an innovation perspective. Empirical testing was conducted using data from enterprises in Zhongguancun, China, spanning the years 2014 to 2019. The study finds that the application of digital technology can effectively alleviate the financing constraints faced by enterprises. Additionally, the impact varies depending on the specific digital technology employed and the level of its adoption. The mechanism analysis reveals that enhancing innovation capability and integrating into innovation networks are crucial pathways through which digital technology alleviates financing constraints. Specifically, the application of digital technology improves firms' innovation capabilities, facilitates their integration into innovation networks, attracts external investment by effectively signaling high-quality attributes to the market, and thereby mitigates financing constraints. Further analysis of heterogeneity indicates that the alleviating effect of digital technology on financing constraints is more pronounced when entrepreneurs' cognitive abilities are stronger, when industry competition is intense, and when enterprise scale is larger. This paper provides an empirical foundation for addressing SMEs' financing dilemmas in the digital era and supports high-quality development of enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Kang & Sun, Kang & Li, Yifei & Xie, Qian, 2025. "Can digital technology break the financing dilemma of innovative SMEs? Based on the perspective of enterprise innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:214:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525000617
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162525000617
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Avi Goldfarb & Catherine Tucker, 2019. "Digital Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 57(1), pages 3-43, March.
    2. Llopis-Albert, Carlos & Rubio, Francisco & Valero, Francisco, 2021. "Impact of digital transformation on the automotive industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    3. Michael Spence, 2002. "Signaling in Retrospect and the Informational Structure of Markets," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(3), pages 434-459, June.
    4. Satish Nambisan, 2017. "Digital Entrepreneurship: Toward a Digital Technology Perspective of Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(6), pages 1029-1055, November.
    5. Annarelli, Alessandro & Battistella, Cinzia & Nonino, Fabio & Parida, Vinit & Pessot, Elena, 2021. "Literature review on digitalization capabilities: Co-citation analysis of antecedents, conceptualization and consequences," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    6. Monika Mrázová & J. Peter Neary, 2017. "Not So Demanding: Demand Structure and Firm Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(12), pages 3835-3874, December.
    7. Jack E. Triplett, 1999. "The Solow productivity paradox: what do computers do to productivity?," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 32(2), pages 309-334, April.
    8. Carmen Camelo & Mariluz Fernández‐Alles & Ana B. Hernández, 2010. "Strategic consensus, top management teams, and innovation performance," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(6), pages 678-695, September.
    9. Bougheas, Spiros & Mizen, Paul & Yalcin, Cihan, 2006. "Access to external finance: Theory and evidence on the impact of monetary policy and firm-specific characteristics," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 199-227, January.
    10. Mann, Ronald J. & Sager, Thomas W., 2007. "Patents, venture capital, and software start-ups," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 193-208, March.
    11. Long Xue & Qianyu Zhang & Xuemang Zhang & Chengyu Li, 2022. "Can Digital Transformation Promote Green Technology Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    12. Scott Shane & Toby Stuart, 2002. "Organizational Endowments and the Performance of University Start-ups," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(1), pages 154-170, January.
    13. Aysa Ipek Erdogan, 2019. "Determinants of perceived bank financing accessibility for SMEs: evidence from an emerging market," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(1), pages 690-716, January.
    14. Hoenen, Sebastian & Kolympiris, Christos & Schoenmakers, Wilfred & Kalaitzandonakes, Nicholas, 2014. "The diminishing signaling value of patents between early rounds of venture capital financing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 956-989.
    15. Blichfeldt, Henrik & Faullant, Rita, 2021. "Performance effects of digital technology adoption and product & service innovation – A process-industry perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    16. Soni, Gunjan & Kumar, Satish & Mahto, Raj V. & Mangla, Sachin K. & Mittal, M.L. & Lim, Weng Marc, 2022. "A decision-making framework for Industry 4.0 technology implementation: The case of FinTech and sustainable supply chain finance for SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    17. Toby E. Stuart, 2000. "Interorganizational alliances and the performance of firms: a study of growth and innovation rates in a high‐technology industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(8), pages 791-811, August.
    18. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    19. Kaustia, Markku & Rantala, Ville, 2015. "Social learning and corporate peer effects," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(3), pages 653-669.
    20. Matray, Adrien, 2021. "The local innovation spillovers of listed firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(2), pages 395-412.
    21. Yuan, Shengjun & Musibau, Hammed Oluwaseyi & Genç, Sema Yılmaz & Shaheen, Riffat & Ameen, Anam & Tan, Zhixiong, 2021. "Digitalization of economy is the key factor behind fourth industrial revolution: How G7 countries are overcoming with the financing issues?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    22. Katharina Cepa, 2021. "Understanding interorganizational big data technologies: How technology adoption motivations and technology design shape collaborative dynamics," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(7), pages 1761-1799, November.
    23. Qiaoling Fang & Nutao Yu & Hui Xu, 2023. "Governance effects of digital transformation: from the perspective of accounting quality," China Journal of Accounting Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 77-107, January.
    24. Hoenig, Daniel & Henkel, Joachim, 2015. "Quality signals? The role of patents, alliances, and team experience in venture capital financing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 1049-1064.
    25. Mary J. Benner & Joel Waldfogel, 2023. "Changing the channel: Digitization and the rise of “middle tail” strategies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(1), pages 264-287, January.
    26. Verrecchia, Robert E., 1990. "Information quality and discretionary disclosure," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 365-380, March.
    27. Carmen Camelo & Mariluz Fernández‐Alles & Ana B. Hernández, 2010. "Strategic consensus, top management teams, and innovation performance," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 31(6), pages 678-695, September.
    28. Yang, Miying & Fu, Mingtao & Zhang, Zihan, 2021. "The adoption of digital technologies in supply chains: Drivers, process and impact," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    29. Haeussler, Carolin & Patzelt, Holger & Zahra, Shaker A., 2012. "Strategic alliances and product development in high technology new firms: The moderating effect of technological capabilities," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 217-233.
    30. Darrough, Masako N. & Stoughton, Neal M., 1990. "Financial disclosure policy in an entry game," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(1-3), pages 219-243, January.
    31. Jinlin Li & Litai Chen & Ying Chen & Jiawen He, 2022. "Digital economy, technological innovation, and green economic efficiency—Empirical evidence from 277 cities in China," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 616-629, April.
    32. Bhattacharya, Utpal & Daouk, Hazem & Welker, Michael, 2003. "The World Price of Earnings Opacity," Working Papers 127185, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.
    33. Zhang, Dongyang, 2020. "How do firms overcome financial constraint anxiety to survive in the market? Evidence from large manufacturing data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    34. Sjödin, David & Parida, Vinit & Kohtamäki, Marko & Wincent, Joakim, 2020. "An agile co-creation process for digital servitization: A micro-service innovation approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 478-491.
    35. K. D. Joshi & Lei Chi & Avimanyu Datta & Shu Han, 2010. "Changing the Competitive Landscape: Continuous Innovation Through IT-Enabled Knowledge Capabilities," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(3), pages 472-495, September.
    36. Michael Spence, 1973. "Job Market Signaling," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 87(3), pages 355-374.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hoenig, Daniel & Henkel, Joachim, 2015. "Quality signals? The role of patents, alliances, and team experience in venture capital financing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 1049-1064.
    2. Evila Piva & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2018. "Human capital signals and entrepreneurs’ success in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 667-686, October.
    3. Simon Kleinert & Christine Volkmann & Marc Grünhagen, 2020. "Third-party signals in equity crowdfunding: the role of prior financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 341-365, January.
    4. Klus, Milan Frederik, 2020. "From signalling to endorsement: The valorisation of fledgling digital ventures [Vom Signalisieren zur Unterstützung: Die Aufwertung junger digitaler Unternehmen]," Discussion Papers of the Institute for Organisational Economics 3/2020, University of Münster, Institute for Organisational Economics.
    5. Wang, Taiyuan & Qureshi, Israr & Deeds, David & Ren, Yi, 2019. "How do technology ventures signal IPO quality? A configurational approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 105-114.
    6. Roma, Paolo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Perrone, Giovanni, 2017. "From the crowd to the market: The role of reward-based crowdfunding performance in attracting professional investors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1606-1628.
    7. Yang, Shu & Kher, Romi & Newbert, Scott L., 2020. "What signals matter for social startups? It depends: The influence of gender role congruity on social impact accelerator selection decisions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).
    8. Colombo, Massimo G. & Guerini, Massimiliano & Hoisl, Karin & Zeiner, Nico M., 2023. "The dark side of signals: Patents protecting radical inventions and venture capital investments," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(5).
    9. Nigam, Nirjhar & Benetti, Cristiane & Johan, Sofia A., 2020. "Digital start-up access to venture capital financing: What signals quality?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    10. Bhattacharyya, Jagriti & Subrahmanya, M.H. Bala, 2024. "Determinants of a digital start-up's access to VC financing in India: A signaling theory perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    11. Tumasjan, Andranik & Braun, Reiner & Stolz, Barbara, 2021. "Twitter sentiment as a weak signal in venture capital financing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(2).
    12. Roma, Paolo & Vasi, Maria & Kolympiris, Christos, 2021. "On the signaling effect of reward-based crowdfunding: (When) do later stage venture capitalists rely more on the crowd than their peers?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(6).
    13. Konstantinos Pitsakis & Vangelis Souitaris & Nicos Nicolaou, 2015. "The Peripheral Halo Effect: Do Academic Spinoffs Influence Universities' Research Income?," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3), pages 321-353, May.
    14. Liu, Chengyun & Su, Kun & Zhang, Miaomiao, 2021. "Water disclosure and financial reporting quality for social changes: Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    15. Maurer, Joshua D. & Creek, Steven A. & Allison, Thomas H. & Bendickson, Joshua S. & Sahaym, Arvin, 2023. "Affiliation rhetoric and digital orientation in crowdfunding appeals," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    16. Massimo G. Colombo & Benedetta Montanaro & Silvio Vismara, 2023. "What drives the valuation of entrepreneurial ventures? A map to navigate the literature and research directions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 59-84, June.
    17. Paolo Gubitta & Alessandra Tognazzo & Federica Destro, 2016. "Signaling in academic ventures: the role of technology transfer offices and university funds," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 368-393, April.
    18. Saul Estrin & Susanna Khavul & Mike Wright, 2022. "Soft and hard information in equity crowdfunding: network effects in the digitalization of entrepreneurial finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1761-1781, April.
    19. John Hagedoorn & Boris Lokshin & Stéphane Malo, 2018. "Alliances and the innovation performance of corporate and public research spin-off firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 763-781, April.
    20. Bronwyn H Hall, 2019. "Is there a role for patents in the financing of new innovative firms?," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(3), pages 657-680.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:214:y:2025:i:c:s0040162525000617. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00401625 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.