STRATEGIES OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES IN DIGITAL SOLUTIONS IN MODERN CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article examines the essence and role of digital solutions in the activities of contemporary economic actors. The results of a recent review of the academic literature indicate that the greatest scholarly attention is devoted to the implementation of digital solutions and their impact on various processes and objects. The relevance of further research is substantiated, as is the need for a deeper conceptual understanding of the processes unfolding in the development and production of digital solutions over recent years. The article analyses the distinctive features of innovation development strategies of leading international technology companies that, according to the new UNCTAD taxonomy, are classified as providers of digital solutions. The study examines key performance indicators of leading digital solution providers and identifies the main components of their innovation development strategies at two analytical levels. It is argued that the growing demand for digital solutions from leading providers drives further expansion of their ecosystems. Based on a comparative analysis, the article demonstrates that a company's status as a key player in the digital economy is determined by its functional role within digital value chains rather than solely by its level of innovation activity. It is shown that a dominant position in the digital economy may be shaped not only by the intensity of research and development efforts, but also by companies' capacity to ensure the scaling, integration, and infrastructural support of digital solutions. This approach has important conceptual implications for the further development of digital economy theory and innovation management. The study outlines the trend towards the expansion of innovation and investment activities of leading international technology companies beyond the boundaries of the digital economy and emphasises the necessity of applying the principles of responsible innovation in contemporary innovation development strategies. A key conceptual contribution of the article lies in raising the question of the limits and direction of innovative development of technology companies, particularly in the context of their increasing investment activity in non-technical fields. The findings have both theoretical and practical significance and may be used in further research on the digital economy, innovation development strategies, and responsible innovation.