Digitalization, Industry 4.0 Policies and Inward Foreign Direct Investments: Evidence from European Regions

Olimpija Hristova Zaevska, Diletta Pegoraro, Lucia Piscitello

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter provides evidence on the relationship between digitalization policies and inward FDI (IFDI) in the European regions, specifically considering the amount of state aid related to the digitalization of firms and the presence of an I4 Ecosystem (I4ES) in the region, and relating them to the international openness of the region, in terms of IFDI attraction. EU regions’ level of innovativeness is classified according to the EU Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS 2021). The analysis shows that I4ES stimulate innovativeness, knowledge sharing and cross-fertilization in the region, thus supporting greater access to innovation state aid and the attraction of more IFDIs. Regions classified by the RIS 2021 as moderate or strong innovators host more I4ES as well as higher IFDI levels. In these regions, I4ES are internationally open, collaborating with firms internationally; this further facilitates FDI attraction, showing a virtuous circle between DIH, I4 and international openness of the region.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of International Business Policy
EditorsPhilippe Gugler, Ana T. Tavares-Lehmann
Number of pages35
Place of PublicationCheltenham
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing
Publication date2024
Pages357-391
Chapter20
ISBN (Print)9781035308675
ISBN (Electronic)9781035308682
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
SeriesResearch Handbooks in Business and Management

Keywords

  • Digitalization
  • Industry 4.0
  • Industry 4.0 policies
  • Inward FDI
  • European regions

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