The economic function of knowledge brokers: the European experience of Digital Innovation Hubs

Alessandra Costa, Antonio Crupi, Dominique Lepore and Luca Marinelli

Chapter 7 in A Modern Guide to Industrial Economics, 2026, pp 109-122 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In an evolving scenario shaped by digital transformation and new technologies, innovation intermediaries (IIs) play a central role in bridging knowledge gaps between firms, universities, governments and citizens. Their function is particularly relevant in regional innovation ecosystems where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) require tailored support to overcome resource and organisational constraints that obstruct their access to digital technologies. This chapter explores the economic role of IIs in driving the digital transformation of SMEs, focusing on their function as knowledge brokers. Drawing on the European experience of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), the chapter examines how these IIs foster collaborative environments that address the structural challenges faced by SMEs by facilitating a continuous process of cross-regional learning. Through two illustrative case studies, this chapter shows how emerging collaborations among DIHs represent a new area of knowledge brokerage that can strengthen the connectivity and innovation capacity of Europe's regional innovation ecosystems.

Keywords: Broker; Digital transformation; DIH; Innovation intermediary; Knowledge; S3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035365609
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