INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND GREEN INNOVATION IN ITALIAN SMES

Purpose. This study aims to examine the relationships between Intellectual Capital (IC), entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and green innovation in small and medium-sized Italian enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, it investigates how different components of Intellectual Capital influence the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation and how these, in turn, impact green innovation. Design/methodology/approach. A structural model is developed and tested using data from a sample of 210 Italian SMEs. The model is analysed using the PLS-SEM technique. Findings. Results show that Structural Capital has a significant, positive influence on all three dimensions of entrepreneurial ori- entation (innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking). Human Capital positively impacts risk-taking, while Relational Capital positively influences innovativeness. The only EO dimension that demonstrates a significant, positive relationship with green inno- vation is innovativeness. Practical and Social Implications. The study highlights the im- portance of SMEs investing in Structural Capital to foster entre- preneurial orientation. Moreover, it underscores the critical role of innovativeness in driving green innovation, suggesting that culti- vating a culture of creativity and experimentation could be key to advancing environmental sustainability efforts. Originality of the Study. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the interplay between IC, EO and green innovation in the context of Italian SMEs. It of- fers a more nuanced understanding of how different components of Intellectual Capital influence specific dimensions of entrepreneur- ial orientation and how these translate into green innovation.