In recent years, significant research has explored 6G vision, enabling technologies, business models, and potential applications. However, the economic feasibility of these advanced and intelligent services must be addressed before standardization. To support the successful realization of 6G promises, we quantified the technical requirements and assessed the economic viability of the proposed solutions using current 5G data and appropriate multipliers. An example application of our analysis shows that the required performance improvements and network densification lead to significantly higher infrastructure costs, with 6G investments estimated to be 200%–840% higher than those of 5G, depending on the use case. In addition, both revenue and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) are projected to increase considerably. For example, implementing 6G in the case of Pervasive Connectivity & Smart Cities requires an ARPU growth of 10% and a 479% increase in revenue compared with today’s 5G, making it highly feasible. However, use cases such as AR/VR applications present challenges, with ARPU requiring a 582% increase to achieve 407% revenue growth. The proposed approach represents a significant contribution that offers economic insights to stakeholders by quantifying and assessing various 6G deployment scenarios. It does so in a structured and replicable manner, fostering an open dialogue on the economic potential of 6G within a well-defined framework.

Digital transformation is crucial for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as it enhances organizational efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness by enabling process automation, cost reduction, and faster decision-making. It also allows for SMEs to leverage emerging technologies, improve customer engagement, and access new markets, thereby fostering innovation and sustainable growth. The proposed study aims to reveal the most significant aspects regarding the digital transformation in the SME business environment. Even though the concept of digital transformation has gained much research interest, SMEs still face significant obstacles, including limited financial resources, a shortage of skilled personnel, and resistance to change within organizational culture. A systematic literature review on the digital transformation of SMEs was conducted to reveal the enablers and obstacles encountered by these businesses in their pursuit of digital maturity. This review underscores the importance of human resources and digital maturity, emphasizing the need for a digitally skilled workforce and a culture of continuous learning. The results can enforce future research on this subject and could focus on the relationship between digital transformation and organizational performance, the role of digital entrepreneurship, and the long-term effects of digital transformation, providing valuable insights to help SMEs navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve sustainable growth.

Digital transformation has become a critical priority for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially after the pandemic crisis. Despite progress in upgrading their digital maturity, many SMEs still encounter significant challenges in designing and implementing effective digital transformation strategies. This study investigates the factors that shape SMEs’ digital transformation journeys and their digital maturity. A total of 81 academic papers were collected from three databases (ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Scopus) and analyzed using latent dirichlet allocation (LDA) after appropriate text cleaning and preprocessing. The analysis revealed nine key topics influencing SMEs: dynamic and digital capabilities, emerging tech adoption, strategic transformation intensity, digital processes implemented, extrovert opportunities, performance and capabilities, management’s transition to agile structures, digital vision and orientation, and human resources and digital maturity. These topics highlight the technological, organizational, and resource-related complexity of digital transformation for SMEs. The study contributes to existing research by offering a structured view of the digital transformation landscape in the SME ecosystem and proposes a roadmap to help firms navigate this complexity and enhance their performance and efficiency in the digital era.

Purpose: This study investigates how stakeholder ecosystems in seven medium-sized European cities co-design and implement inclusive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and post-compulsory learning activities. It aims to identify key challenges, examine stakeholder engagement, and explore mechanisms that foster diversity and digital inclusion within evolving labour markets. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative multiple case study design was employed, drawing on the EU-funded projects in cities of Amarante (Portugal), Arezzo (Italy), Bielsko-Biala (Poland), Idrija (Slovenia), Larnaka (Cyprus), Trikala and Psachna (Greece). Integrated Action Plans, supplementary documents, and observations were analysed using a Quadruple Helix lens (QH) and Multi-level Logic Model. Triangulation across data sources ensured validity, while cross-case analysis identified recurrent mechanisms and emerging outcomes. Findings: The study reveals comprehensive QH Ecosystems, with government, education, industry, and civil society actively involved. Across diverse contexts, interventions such as bootcamps, workshops, mentoring sessions, and micro-hackathons effectively addressed skills mismatches, supported underrepresented groups, and fostered digital inclusion. The findings indicate that bundled, multidimensional, practice-rich activities generate coherent, system-level outcomes compared with isolated interventions. Additionally, a multi-level TVET logic model is proposed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the pathways from co-design to outcomes and impact. Originality/value: This study provides comparative empirical evidence on stakeholder-driven ecosystem approaches to inclusive TVET and post-compulsory education across European cities. By operationalising a multi-level TVET logic model and integrating Ecosystem Theory with contribution analysis, it advances both theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of how collaborative governance fosters inclusive and future-ready skills development.

The development of a large-scale widespread spectrum monitoring network (SMN) is essential for spectrum management and interference identification at a national level. The financial outlay involved in setting up such a system is considerable, encompassing the acquisition of requisite equipment and installation infrastructure. However, the expenses can be significantly curtailed by leveraging the existing infrastructure of other service providers, such as mobile network operators (MNOs), via collocation. Nevertheless, this strategy requires the selection of suitable sites among the available ones to develop an SMN that is both efficient and cost-effective. Toward this end, this article presents the methodological framework for designing a nationwide SMN by collocating with existing MNOs’ infrastructure. The proposed approach is evaluated using computer simulations in the context of the spectrum monitoring requirements in Greece. Specifically, the network’s performance is assessed according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guidelines and the spectrum limitations of Greece’s national regulatory authority (NRA). The results demonstrate that a network based on time difference of arrival (TDoA) with 160 sensors can adequately cover the entire region, including the mainland, islands, and surrounding seas. Adding angle-of-arrival (AoA) capabilities to 30 out of 160 sites enables the hybrid geolocation technology and improves the geolocation ability and accuracy of the SMN network noticeably.