Editorial: New and emerging digital technologies for the digital age: paving the path for the transition

In the EU, the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025–2027 aims to address some key global challenges, like digital transition and an ageing population. According to the European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (2024, p. 6), “in 2021-2027, it is agreed to invest at least EUR 13 billion from Horizon Europe in core digital technologies”.It is crucial to know and disseminate the experiences and applications of new and emerging digital technologies across various sectors, to promote dialogue among key stakeholders (governments, companies, academics, researchers and citizens) and to foster international scientific collaboration and cooperation in the fields of science and technology. In addition, it is key to support open access to scientific knowledge, empower citizens and foster the development of more inclusive and resilient economies and societies.Issue 8 of Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management presents a collection of seven papers addressing some crucial topics for competitiveness of companies and countries in the digital era. The issue discusses topics like artificial intelligence, blockchain, cashless payments, digital currency, entrepreneurship, smart manufacturing and national innovation systems.The first paper titled “Impact of community service on university performance and efficiency” (by Sondari, Hermanu, Nurlaeli and Artisheila) presents the results of a study that “analyzes the effectiveness and efficiency of research-based community service programs in Indonesia that used government funds in 2017–2021. The design of this research is a quantitative research method using a data envelopment analysis to evaluate 370 leading universities in Indonesia. Furthermore, six analytical models were considered to compare effectiveness and efficiency between universities. It involved two resource (budget and staff academic involved), three output (intellectual property, prototype and publication) and three outcome variables (economic impact, social impact and capacity building). The findings showed that several universities are considered necessary, with great potential to increase output and outcome efficiency in community involvement. The study mapped and divided the position of 370 universities for additional information. The effectiveness aspect provides another perspective in assessing the performance of tertiary institutions in Indonesia and can be an option for evaluating research performance to improve the quality of output. The authors use data from research and community service management information systems used, both the resources used and the results. Efficiency and effectiveness of 370 universities were compared in this study, including comparing their position on the previous assessment with the assessment of the results of this study”.The second paper titled “Laws and policy initiatives in regulating blockchain and digital currencies” (by Selvanesan and Rodrigo) states that “despite the unique features and potential applications in various industries, widespread blockchain adoption is hindered for several reasons. One of them is the lack of government regulations regarding blockchain and cryptocurrencies. However, a deliberate preliminary analysis of the policy initiatives by various jurisdictions proved otherwise, and a lack of sound academic literature on the policy initiatives on blockchain worldwide was evident. Addressing this gap, this study aims to summarize the policy initiatives of jurisdictions around the world, assessing if governments do not enact many regulations. A systematic literature review was adopted in this study, in which the authors shortlisted a set of research papers and policy reports using several selection criteria and a screening process. It was found that numerous policy initiatives have been enacted by governments worldwide, and blockchain applications are also being piloted or practiced successfully in several nations. It was also evident that governments are reluctant to accept cryptocurrencies as legal tender while embracing their underlying technology, blockchain. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper appears to be one of the first attempts to summarize the blockchain policy initiatives contributing to the body of knowledge on blockchain adoption”.The third paper titled “The factors impact on the cashless payment behaviour: the IPA model approach” (by Dinh) affirms that “in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the trend in industrial development 4.0, the problem is how to conduct transactions of goods and services in the market using cashless payment in Vietnam, as in developed countries. This study aims to investigate, analyze and evaluate the factors affecting cashless payment behavior in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The QR codes are used for payments because many factors affect the behavior of cashless payments made using electronic payment tools, including QR code tools. To achieve this goal, this study applied behavioral theory and the importance-performance analysis (IPA) model to measure service quality based on the difference between customer opinions on the importance and performance level of service providers’ targets. Survey results were obtained from 111 people living in HCMC, Vietnam, including 47 men and 64 women, which was a survey for 15 criteria. According to the IPA results of the first quadrant, managers should focus on allocating their resources toward improving their performance across five key criteria. These criteria are crucial for meeting customers’ expectations and include factors such as product quality, responsiveness to customer queries or complaints, delivery times, pricing and customer service. In addition, the second quadrant of the IPA highlights another set of five criteria that perform well and are essential to the success of the business. These criteria could consist of customer loyalty, employee satisfaction, profitability, market share and innovation”.The fourth paper titled “Study of adoption of artificial intelligence technology driven natural large language model based chatbots by firms for customer service interaction” (by Bhattacharyya) presents the results of a study that explores “the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology-driven natural large language model (LLM)-based chatbots by customers. A qualitative research study method was conducted. This was to explore managerial perspectives towards consumer centric technology adoption of AI plus LLM-based chatbots. This was specifically for AI-driven natural LLM-based chatbots services. The author conducted conducted in-depth personal interviews with 32 experts of digital content AI + LLM chatbot services. Thematic content analysis was undertaken to analyse the data. The advent of natural language processing tools driven by AI technology chatbots has altered human-firm interaction. The research findings indicated that the push-pull-mooring (PPM) factors captured the phenomenon in the most comprehensive way. A total of 15 key factors influencing the adoption of AI technology-driven natural LLM-based chatbots by customers during firm customer interaction were identified in this study by the author. The thematic content analysis unraveled insights regarding transformed consumer adoptions towards AI-driven LLM-based chatbots by means of the PPM framework factors”.The fifth paper titled “Entrepreneurial ideas of information and communication technology: commercialization in post-COVID-19 Era” (by Daneshjoovash, Jafari, Khamseh and Saber) conducts a study that explores “a model of commercializing entrepreneurial ideas in information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge-based companies. A mixed method has been used in the research. The participants of the qualitative part were 15 key informants selected by sampling method purposefully and theoretically, while a sample of 205 experts was randomly chosen for the quantitative part. Data collection was completed through a semistructured interview in the qualitative part and by a researcher-made questionnaire in the quantitative part”.The sixth paper titled “Smart manufacturing implementation: identifying barriers and their related stakeholders and components of technology” (by Valipour Parkouhi, Safaei Ghadikolaei, Fallah Lajimi and Salimi) states that “one of the achievements of the fourth industrial revolution is smart manufacturing, a manufacturing system based on Industry 4.0 technologies that will increase systems’ reliability, efficiency and productivity. Despite the many benefits, some barriers obstruct the implementation of this manufacturing system. This study aims to analyze these barriers. One of the measures that must be taken is to identify and try to remove these barriers, which involves identifying the stakeholders and components of technology associated with each barrier. As such, the primary purpose of this paper is to present a systematic literature review in the field of smart manufacturing with a focus on barriers to implementation related to the stakeholders and components of technology. This research conducted a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science databases and considered the studies published until 2021 were examined. The central question of this paper is answered based on this literature review, in which 133 related studies and 15 barriers were identified”.Finally, the last paper of the issue, titled “Analyzing institutional factors influencing the national innovation system” (by Singh, Dhir, Mukunda Das and Sharma) affirms that “while extant literature explores the influence of institutions on the national innovation system (NIS), most research has either focused on specific institutional aspects or treated institutions as a unified entity. This study aims to examine the effect of various institutional factors on a country’s NIS. The conceptual model was empirically validated using regression analysis. The study sample comprised a total of 84 countries. This study identifies and empirically validates a comprehensive set of institutional factors. It also highlights the significant institutional factors (including political stability, government effectiveness, ease of resolving insolvency and the rule of law) that can help improve a country’s NIS. The research provides practical implications for organizations and policymakers seeking to understand and foster an innovative culture within the NIS. Policymakers are encouraged to develop a nurturing environment within the NIS by focusing on significant institutional factors. Organizations are encouraged to closely monitor developments in the NIS of a country to make informed strategic decisions at the business, corporate and international levels”.