The B2B relationship in industrial companies from the position of hidden champions: knowledge-intensive services for small business

Aimar Basañez-Zulueta, Jon Barrutia-Güenaga, Arturo Rodriguez-Castellanos and Emelina Gracia-Ramos

International Journal of Business Environment, 2024, vol. 15, issue 3/4, 384-407

Abstract: SME access to advanced services is explored from a business and territorial perspective. Based on the term knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS), advanced services are conceptualised from this approach to define the existence of a KIBS function, which is not necessarily linked to organic structures explicitly declared as KIBS. A theoretical framework in which hidden champions are linked to KIBS has been established for this purpose and two propositions have been set forth. A qualitative analysis is used in two territories, the Basque Country (Spain) and the department of Antioquia (Colombia) to check them. The propositions were confirmed in both territories and a comparative analysis was also performed, which increases the robustness of results as the two areas belong to different geo-economic zones. The main conclusion is that hidden champions can act as KIBS to benefit SMEs in the area and territory where they are located.

Keywords: competitiveness; innovation; knowledge-intensive business services; KIBS; sustainability; hidden champions. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:15:y:2024:i:3/4:p:384-407

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