External factors and the access of firms to AI-related cutting-edge technologies in the local economy

The study examines external factors in firms’ access to AI-related cutting-edge technologies using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, with a specific focus on the environmental dimension, by distinguishing between local economy and industry-specific factors. The empirical analysis uses survey data from 67 medium-sized and large manufacturing firms in Romania. A key measurement limitation is that AI access is proxied through perceived access to advanced technologies, which may blur the distinction between AI access and broader advanced digitalisation. Collectively, external factors account for approximately 28.1% of the variance in technological access. However, when the two groups of factors are analysed separately, only industry-specific factors are statistically significant. Expected benefits and customer pressure for continuous improvement account for around 17.8% of the variation. By contrast, local economy factors, such as general innovation infrastructure or public incentives, are not statistically significant as a separate group. Notably, research infrastructure is strongly associated with technological access, becoming detectable after adjusting for industry-related variables. Overall, the findings suggest that firms’ access to AI-related cutting-edge technologies is more strongly associated with perceived economic advantages, sophisticated industry demand, and conducive research infrastructure than with general local economy conditions.