Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation: A Spanish Analysis Using ESEE Data

Abstract

We analyse how digital entrepreneurship influences the innovation activity of Spanish manufacturing firms using an ESEE panel data from 2013 to 2016. Three variables are significant for all kind of innovation: to have their own internet selling system; internet suppliers’ buying strategy and firm’s sales internet relevance. Additionally, Spanish SMEs’ behaviour is different from big firms: meanwhile internet plays a very relevant role for SMEs, it is not so important for bigger ones. The need to emphasize the development and access to digital technologies, especially Spanish SMEs, to compete with success in the global economy is our main conclusion.