IT as a driver of R&D processes and strategic renewal

Recent advancements in information technology are profoundly impacting a variety of business functions across different industries. R&D and strategic renewal, as critical drivers of organisational innovation, are particularly influenced by these tectonic shifts in the technological landscape. In response, there has been a growing interest among business academics and practitioners in understanding how these technologies can be leveraged to maximise benefits and foster the creation of new value in organisations. This editorial paper proposes a moderated mediation model that provides a comprehensive view of the connections between IT-related antecedents and outcomes in R&D, strategic renewal, and innovation performance. Through this model, we elucidate the pathways through which IT impacts organisational processes and identify key areas for future research. Additionally, we introduce six papers published in this special issue that explore these themes across various contexts, contributing to the discourse on the strategic implications of IT in digital transformation and business sustainability.