In the recent years there has been an increased interest towards relocating manufacturing back to Europe. Consequently, it becomes important to develop evaluation models of manufacturing location. We use secondary data to establish model for European Union 27 (EU-27) countries. Findings reveal in pairwise model comparison, that larger European countries seem to be the best locations in general (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), however, few smaller countries perform high as well (like Ireland, Sweden, Luxemburg and Finland). In general, small member countries have the lowest performance. Typically, these are weak in population and severance pay terms. Lower-performing countries often also miss the larger role of medical and pharmaceutical industry within exports. Results were compared to classical rank-based evaluation. We did find some differences, and it could be said that larger countries lost their higher status, but Ireland and Sweden were still in highest ranks.

Purpose

The paper aims to illuminate the platform created by a cluster organization to facilitate its internationalization and thereby enhance its regional innovation system partners' competitiveness by providing access to global value chains and boosting innovativeness.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws upon the interaction approach, focusing on the interaction process, interaction partners, relationship atmosphere, and relationship environment. A qualitative study was conducted at Future Position X, a Swedish cluster organization. A total of 58 interviews were conducted, including 48 face-to-face in-depth interviews between 2017 and 2019 with six key informants at FPX, representatives from 28 SMEs, ten members of regional innovation systems to which FPX belongs, and four process leaders of regional and local networks, in addition to online interviews with ten members of the regional innovation systems conducted via Microsoft Teams in March 2021. The time span of the study provides a longitudinal perspective.

Findings

The FPX cluster collaborates with actors in the quadruple helix, maintaining a mindset that has led to a number of new partner agreements in the global arena to secure the resources and expertise necessary for cluster activities, and thereby ensuring firms in FPX networks access to platforms for international expansion. Internationalization thus expands the cluster's knowledge base beyond the traditional environment of its member firms.

Research limitations/implications

Very few innovations arise from the isolated work of a lone genius. Instead, most innovation is achieved through complex, interactive, iterative and cumulative learning processes in which a variety of actors are involved. The FPX cluster organization's internationalization platform is therefore vital to the internationalization of its partners since cluster actors lack the time, resources, knowledge, experience, and networks required to break into international markets singlehandedly.

Practical implications

This study suggests that, for practitioners and researchers alike, the growing importance and relevance of the regional innovation system cannot be overemphasized. It also holds policy and societal implications in that FPX's global network helps regional SMEs to internationalize, in addition to inspiring international firms to establish operations in the Gävleborg region, thereby helping to strengthen the overall GIS environment. Internationalization also expands the FPX cluster's knowledge base beyond the traditional environment of its firms, an example of this being the construction start of a Microsoft data centre in the region in 2020.

Social implications

FPX is financed through taxation and grant funding. By initiating projects, creating relationships and building collaborations, FPX thus contributes to collaboration between business, academia and the public sector. FPX also contributes to knowledge development of new technology by creating meeting places and networks around digital issues, such as GIS, AI, the IoT and blockchain technology.

Originality/value

While earlier research has concentrated on endogenous gaps critical to cluster dynamics, comparatively little attention has been paid to exogenous gaps, i.e. linkages between regional clusters and innovation partners elsewhere in the world. This study showcases the richness of interactions in the cluster against the background of wider, global innovation interactions. Future research should examine other vital questions that remain unanswered, e.g. by measuring and exploring the extent to which regional innovation systems can contribute to long-term economic growth for society.

We present an interdisciplinary exploration of technostress in knowledge-intensive organizations, including both business and healthcare settings, and its impact on a healthy working life. Technostress, a contemporary form of stress induced by information and communication technology, is associated with reduced job satisfaction, diminished organizational commitment, and adverse patient care outcomes. This article aims to construct an innovative framework, called The Integrated Technostress Resilience Framework, designed to mitigate technostress and promote continuous learning within dynamic organizational contexts. In this perspective article we incorporate a socio-technical systems approach to emphasize the complex interplay between technological and social factors in organizational settings. The proposed framework is expected to provide valuable insights into the role of transparency in digital technology utilization, with the aim of mitigating technostress. Furthermore, it seeks to extend information systems theory, particularly the Technology Acceptance Model, by offering a more nuanced understanding of technology adoption and use. Our conclusion includes considerations for the design and implementation of information systems aimed at fostering resilience and adaptability in organizations undergoing rapid technological change.

This study aims to investigate the measures taken by professional hockey clubs in Sweden for building brand and relationship with fans through social media (SM) during the global pandemic Covid-19. The study followed an inductive approach and qualitative method. Data were collected from officials and fans of three well-known Swedish Hockey league (SHL) teams through semi-structured interviews. A content analysis was undertaken to analyze the collected responses from the club officials and fans. The findings provide insight on the actions taken by the clubs to build their brand and fan relationships through SM. The study provides a framework signifying the important factors that sports organizations need to focus on while building their brand and fan relationships during a global pandemic and in the post pandemic era.

There are calls in the extant literature for further exploration into the factors influencing customer satisfaction in industrial vending solutions (IVS), a distinct vendor-managed inventory method. This study delves into these factors, identifying primary drivers of satisfaction, perceptions of service quality, and indicators of trust and commitment in B2B IVS. It examines how IVS execution impacts perceived service quality through in-depth semi-structured interviews with B2B customers, focusing on efficiency, user-friendliness, and timeliness as key satisfaction drivers. Trust in the customer–supplier relationship positively affects commitment to the supplier. Successful IVS implementation enhances inventory control, customer service, and cost management. Supply chain managers can use these insights to evaluate vending solutions. Future research could explore supplier perceptions of vendor-managed inventory (VMI) success and conduct larger quantitative studies. This study distinguishes itself by focusing on the primary drivers of customer satisfaction and the perception of service quality in B2B IVS environments. It offers a conceptual framework for managing customer satisfaction, product development, and marketing strategies in IVS, addressing a gap in the literature on IVS within VMI contexts.

Sweden is one of the success stories of international trade in rapidly changing and challenged global markets experienced in recent decades. In this research work, we analyze trade change of 2010-2023 period. When it comes to imports, the role of Russia, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark has declined, while the role of the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland show increase. For exports, a diminishing role of UK and Russia could be detected, while the role of the Unites States, Poland and China has increased. Our interpretation is that these trade changes are due to global macro-level political changes. Both Brexit (2016 onwards) and Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 onwards) are having long-term effects. Before both UK and Russia held high importance; however, in the recent years, especially exports to USA have played an important role, and is providing growth and surplus. Despite declining importance, UK trade has remained in surplus, and could be characterized as a slower-moving market.

International trade has experienced since Global Financial Crisis (GFC) numerous uncertainties and risks. There are some countries that have successfully navigated in this challenging environment, like Sweden. In this research, we analyze the changes in trade between 2010–2023. For imports, the role of Russia, United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark has declined, while the importance of the Netherlands, Norway, and Poland show increase. For exports, a diminishing role of UK and Russia could be detected, while the role of the USA, Poland, Germany and China has increased. Our interpretation is that these trade changes are due to global geopolitical, i.e. macro-level shifts. Both Brexit (2016 onwards) and Russian invasion of Ukraine (2014 onwards) show long-term trade effects. Prior both UK and Russia held high importance; however, in the recent years, especially exports to USA have played more important role, and it is providing growth and surplus. Despite the export growth to Poland, Germany, and China, the trade to these countries remains to show trade deficit. We also analyze the impact of trade changes on maritime trade. Although, the overall handling at sea ports has declined, but container based trade demonstrates clear growth. Direct container connections to UK and Russia have declined substantially in the observation period as Chinese show significant increase.

The aim of the study was to identify the criteria consumers consider when purchasing electric vehicles (EVs). The study was conducted in Brazil using the Free Word Association Technique (FWAT) that investigated the criteria consumers consider while purchasing EVs. 

The purpose of the study was to Identify decisive attributes that influence electric vehicles (EVs) purchase in emerging markets.  The study was conducted in Brazil using the Free Word Association Technique (FWAT).