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

Authors: Aimar Basañez-Zulueta; Jon Barrutia-Güenaga; Arturo Rodriguez-Castellanos; Emelina Gracia-Ramos

Addresses: Business and Economics Department (UPV/EHU), Faculty of Economics and Business, Lehendakari Aguirre, 83, 48015-BILBAO, Spain; Goi Eskola Politeknikoa (Mondragon Unibertsitatea), Loramendi Kalea, 4, 20500-ARRASATE, Spain ' Business and Economics Department (UPV/EHU), Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Lehendakari Aguirre, 83, 48015-BILBAO, Spain ' Business and Economics Department (UPV/EHU), Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Lehendakari Aguirre, 83, 48015-BILBAO, Spain ' Business and Economics Department (UPV/EHU), Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Lehendakari Aguirre, 83, 48015-BILBAO, Spain

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.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2024.139699

International Journal of Business Environment, 2024 Vol.15 No.3/4, pp.384 - 407

Received: 09 Mar 2023
Accepted: 17 Jul 2023
Published online: 05 Jul 2024 *

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