This paper delves into the growing need for collaborative technological solutions to address environmental challenges, with a focus on the underexplored potential of Industry 4.0 technologies, in particular as regards blockchain technology (BCT) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Recognizing the obstacles faced by SMEs when embracing green and digital transformation, this research aims to investigate how innovation intermediaries are able to unlock the collaborative potential of BCT for SMEs so as to enhance their environmental sustainability. When assessing and analysing the role of innovation intermediaries, we have also considered their interconnections and interactions with other actors: universities, government institutions and firms (the so-called “stakeholders”). Our research is based on a multiple case study of a still largely unexplored intermediary in the European context, the digital innovation hub (DIH), which extends the applicability of the technological innovation system framework. This approach contributes to research both on innovation intermediaries and on the development of collaborative partnerships for digitalization. The findings reveal the challenges encountered by DIHs, particularly in legitimizing BCT-based solutions. To address these, identified, weaknesses, the paper proposes a conceptual roadmap aimed at improving collaboration among DIHs, SMEs, and their stakeholders. This roadmap outlines three essential functions: enabling, core, and facilitating effective partnerships and innovation processes.

Ongoing global climate change, growing population and the intensification of economic activities, increase pressure on water resources, a situation many see as a water governance crisis. Water-related issues are becoming a limiting factor for sustainable economic growth and require a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, to foster innovative solutions. This paper provides an evidence-based contribution to understanding Triple Helix Model (THM) relations and the path to innovation policy in the water sector. The analysis focuses on the interaction between university–industry–government, with specific reference to the Murcia region in Southeast Spain. This region combines a chronic shortage of water and a leading role for agriculture. Starting from the experience of a researcher, working for the General Water Council of the Murcia Region, this paper is based on both desk research and in-depth personal interviews with representatives of THM actors. In addition, a questionnaire was forwarded to all those companies in charge of providing water services in the Murcia region. The study has found that stakeholders are not fully cooperative in seeking innovation. The main challenges are the renewal of water-related facilities and the improvement of remote control systems, denitrification and desalination technologies and achieving better energy efficiency. To this aim, THM approach is suggested as a source of local innovation policies, identifying a series of tools to foster a collaborative approach.

Blockchain technology (BCT) enables the automated execution of smart contracts in peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. BCT-based P2P platforms allow the sharing, exchange and trade of energy among consumers or prosumers as peers, fostering the decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry. On the other hand, BCT-based P2P energy trading relies on the collection, storage and processing of a large amount of user data, posing interdisciplinary challenges, including user anonymity, privacy, the governance of BCT systems and the role of energy market players. First, this paper seeks to review the state of the art of European data protection law and regulations by focusing on BCT compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2018. Second, it explores both the potentials and the challenges of BCT-based P2P energy trading from a legal–economic perspective. To do so, the paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach which intertwines both law and economics, by reviewing the recent literature on BCT and P2P energy trading. Findings have revealed that the deployment of BCT-based P2P energy trading is still in its pilot stage because of technology immaturity, data protection uncertainty, incomplete disintermediation and the lack of both user awareness and collaboration among market players. Drawing on the review, the paper also proposes a selection of solutions to foster the implementation of BCT-based P2P energy trading.