This chapter empirically investigates the impact of digital knowledge transfer (DKT) initiatives led by multinational enterprises (MNEs) on marginalised local communities in developing economies, with a particular focus on India. To do this, secondary data were gathered from local press releases and news articles to assess the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of DKT initiatives by five leading IT firms in India. The findings demonstrate that, when effectively implemented, these initiatives can help bridge the digital divide and assist companies in aligning with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by fostering inclusive development. This chapter contributes to the ongoing debate about the potential of DKT to deliver tangible benefits for local communities, challenging critiques that dismiss multinational CSR efforts as superficial. Furthermore, the study offers valuable insights for practitioners, highlighting community-centric DKT strategies. CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE: This chapter advances international business scholarship by providing empirical evidence on how multinational enterprises (MNEs) use digital knowledge transfer (DKT) to support marginalised communities in emerging economies. It extends IB and sustainability research by demonstrating how DKT initiatives contribute to inclusive development outcomes aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The study enriches stakeholder theory by foregrounding marginalised communities as legitimate beneficiaries of MNE activity.ORIGINALITY: The chapter is original in shifting attention from firm-level spillovers and symbolic CSR to community-centric digital knowledge transfer. Using qualitative archival data from leading IT MNEs in India, it identifies distinct mechanisms—digital liberation, digital economic integration, and digital entrepreneurship—through which MNEs generate sustained developmental impact. This challenges critiques of CSR as superficial and demonstrates how non-proprietary knowledge sharing can deliver societal value without eroding firm competitiveness.SIGNIFICANCE: The findings are significant for IB research, policy, and practice. They inform policymakers on how MNE–government alignment can support inclusive growth and digital capability building, and guide managers in designing community-responsive DKT strategies. The chapter contributes to debates on sustainable globalisation, industrial development, and responsible MNE behaviour in emerging economies.RIGOUR: Rigour is demonstrated through systematic qualitative analysis of secondary data using established inductive coding techniques. The study follows principles of methodological fit, transparent data selection, and cross-case synthesis, producing credible and transferable insights grounded in IB and sustainability theory.LINK TO MY IMPACT:This output contributes directly to my impact narrative on responsible international business and inclusive sustainable development. By identifying how multinational enterprises can deploy digital knowledge transfer to empower marginalised communities, enhance skills, and foster digital entrepreneurship, the chapter aligns with SDG-related objectives such as quality education, decent work, and reduced inequalities. It also underpins policy-relevant engagement with governments, international organisations, and practitioners on designing community-centric digitalisation strategies, reinforcing my system-level impact on evidence-based sustainability policy and responsible research governance.
Gajbhjye et al. (Tue,) studied this question.