David B. Audretsch is Distinguished Professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, USA. He also leads research at the Institute for Development Strategies and holds a position at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria.Maksim Belitski is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ICD Business School in France and Henley Business School at the University of Reading, UK.Rosa Caiazza is Professor of Management at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy. She is widely recognized for her work on the role of social and institutional factors in shaping global business strategies and is active in bridging academia and practice within the field of management.Mark D. Drapeau is Partner and Chief Research Officer at RXN Group and Editor In Chief at Data Catalyst Institute, based in Washington, DC, USA. His work centers on data science, strategic research, and innovation in technology-driven ecosystems.Matthias Menter is Associate Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, specializing in entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development. His research investigates the intersections of entrepreneurship ecosystems, knowledge transfer, and economic policy.William Wales is Professor at the School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA. His research expertise lies in strategic entrepreneurship, with a focus on entrepreneurial orientation, firm performance, and innovation strategy.

• Preface Introduction: Resilience and digitally-advanced entrepreneurship 1. Blockchain and vulnerable entrepreneurial ecosystems 2. Knowledge strategies and digital technologies maturity: effects on small business performance 3. Entrepreneurial growth aspirations during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of ICT infrastructure quality versus policy response 4. German financial state aid during Covid-19 pandemic: higher impact among digitalized self-employed 5. In danger of being left behind? – Media narratives of the digital transformation in the German Mittelstand 6. Sectoral digital capabilities and complementarities in shaping young firms’ growth: evidence from Europe 7. Techno-overload and well-being of French small business owners: identifying the flipside of digital technologies 8. Inside out: the interplay between institutions and digital technologies for SMEs performance 9. How small firms build resilience to ward off crises: a paradox perspective

David B. Audretsch is Distinguished Professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, USA. He also leads research at the Institute for Development Strategies and holds a position at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria.Maksim Belitski is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ICD Business School in France and Henley Business School at the University of Reading, UK.Rosa Caiazza is Professor of Management at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy. She is widely recognized for her work on the role of social and institutional factors in shaping global business strategies and is active in bridging academia and practice within the field of management.Mark D. Drapeau is Partner and Chief Research Officer at RXN Group and Editor In Chief at Data Catalyst Institute, based in Washington, DC, USA. His work centers on data science, strategic research, and innovation in technology-driven ecosystems.Matthias Menter is Associate Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, specializing in entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development. His research investigates the intersections of entrepreneurship ecosystems, knowledge transfer, and economic policy.William Wales is Professor at the School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA. His research expertise lies in strategic entrepreneurship, with a focus on entrepreneurial orientation, firm performance, and innovation strategy.

• Preface Introduction: Resilience and digitally-advanced entrepreneurship 1. Blockchain and vulnerable entrepreneurial ecosystems 2. Knowledge strategies and digital technologies maturity: effects on small business performance 3. Entrepreneurial growth aspirations during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of ICT infrastructure quality versus policy response 4. German financial state aid during Covid-19 pandemic: higher impact among digitalized self-employed 5. In danger of being left behind? – Media narratives of the digital transformation in the German Mittelstand 6. Sectoral digital capabilities and complementarities in shaping young firms’ growth: evidence from Europe 7. Techno-overload and well-being of French small business owners: identifying the flipside of digital technologies 8. Inside out: the interplay between institutions and digital technologies for SMEs performance 9. How small firms build resilience to ward off crises: a paradox perspective

David B. Audretsch is Distinguished Professor at Indiana University Bloomington’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, USA. He also leads research at the Institute for Development Strategies and holds a position at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria.Maksim Belitski is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ICD Business School in France and Henley Business School at the University of Reading, UK.Rosa Caiazza is Professor of Management at Parthenope University of Naples, Italy. She is widely recognized for her work on the role of social and institutional factors in shaping global business strategies and is active in bridging academia and practice within the field of management.Mark D. Drapeau is Partner and Chief Research Officer at RXN Group and Editor In Chief at Data Catalyst Institute, based in Washington, DC, USA. His work centers on data science, strategic research, and innovation in technology-driven ecosystems.Matthias Menter is Associate Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, specializing in entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional development. His research investigates the intersections of entrepreneurship ecosystems, knowledge transfer, and economic policy.William Wales is Professor at the School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, USA. His research expertise lies in strategic entrepreneurship, with a focus on entrepreneurial orientation, firm performance, and innovation strategy.

• Preface Introduction: Resilience and digitally-advanced entrepreneurship 1. Blockchain and vulnerable entrepreneurial ecosystems 2. Knowledge strategies and digital technologies maturity: effects on small business performance 3. Entrepreneurial growth aspirations during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of ICT infrastructure quality versus policy response 4. German financial state aid during Covid-19 pandemic: higher impact among digitalized self-employed 5. In danger of being left behind? – Media narratives of the digital transformation in the German Mittelstand 6. Sectoral digital capabilities and complementarities in shaping young firms’ growth: evidence from Europe 7. Techno-overload and well-being of French small business owners: identifying the flipside of digital technologies 8. Inside out: the interplay between institutions and digital technologies for SMEs performance 9. How small firms build resilience to ward off crises: a paradox perspective