INTEGRATING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK BASED ON SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
Abstract
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has transformed engineering organizations, yet existing research often examines digital innovation and technology transfer as separate domains. This study addresses the fragmentation between these research streams by developing an integrative conceptual framework grounded in a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Using a PRISMA-based screening process, 35 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 were systematically analyzed to identify convergent theoretical and empirical patterns. The findings reveal that digital innovation drivers such as advanced digital technologies, strategic alignment, and leadership support do not directly guarantee organizational performance. Instead, performance outcomes emerge through a mediated process in which absorptive capacity enables effective technology transfer mechanisms, including structured collaboration and governance alignment. The synthesis supports a sequential capability-based transformation logic linking digital investment to innovation and operational performance. The contribution of the research is the development of an integrative engineering management framework that bridges digital transformation and technology transfer literature while positioning absorptive capacity as a central mediating construct. The study offers theoretical integration and managerial guidance for aligning digital technology acquisition with internal capability development and transfer governance. Future research is encouraged to empirically validate the proposed model across engineering-intensive sectors.
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