ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference - ENTRENOVA - Opatija, Croatia & Hybrid,11-13 September, 2025
Plenary lectures
Lionel Artige
HEC Management School – University of Liège, Belgium
Deindustrialization, really?
Deindustrialization refers to the decline of the manufacturing sector, a trend observed since the late 1960s in developed countries. Some developing countries, where industrialization has been recent and even incomplete, are facing what is known as "premature deindustrialization".
The rise and fall of manufacturing has been far from smooth. The sector has undergone continuous change, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer preferences. The most recent shift involves outsourcing specific tasks and moving industrial activities, either partially or entirely, to emerging or developing countries, resulting in a global and diverse network of suppliers.
To assess whether these changes have weakened or merely transformed manufacturing, I suggest analyzing input-output data from 76 countries between 1995 and 2020, aiming to clarify the global reality of deindustrialization.
Jovana Zoroja
Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb
From Lagging to Leading: Decoding EU Digital Transformation Through DESI Cluster Analysis (2016–2020)
Digital transformation is reshaping Europe's economic and social fabric. This study investigates the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)—which tracks Connectivity, Human Capital, Internet Services, Digital Technology Integration, and Digital Public Services—to reveal hidden patterns in EU digital progress from 2016 to 2020.
Through an innovative cluster analysis approach, we uncover the dynamic landscape of digital convergence across Member States, shedding light on both advances and the persistent digital divide. The analysis reveals that while all regions register notable digital improvements over the period, the pace and scale of progress remain markedly heterogeneous.
Scandinavian nations emerge as the leaders of digital innovation, setting benchmarks in technological leadership, whereas Eastern and Southern countries continue to face significant challenges.