About

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector forms the backbone of the digital transformation and has undergone spectacular
growth over the last decades. However, the ICT sector is increasingly characterized by “winner-takes-all markets” and quasi-monopolies that raise
entry barriers and threaten the survival of small I CT businesses. At the same time, the sector’s future growth is increasingly questioned as key
technological growth drivers may reach physical limits. Against this backdrop, this interdisciplinary research project aims at identifying the underlying
mechanisms and drivers of growth in the ICT sector from a firm- and industry-level perspective. At the firm level, this project draws on qualitative
case studies to advance the literature on firm growth by providing unique insights into the drivers of growth and the strategies firms use to survive in
“winner-takes-all markets”. At the industry level, this project builds on patent and industry data analysis to generate a better understanding about
how different technologies in the sector are linked and jointly shape industry dynamics. From the new insights gained, practical recommendations will
be derived on how small firms can design competitive strategies in quasi-monopolistic markets, and how regulators can support digital late movers
and develop early warning systems to prevent the emergence of monopolies.