Determinants of Green Innovations in North Macedonian SMEs: A Stakeholders Perspective

Green innovation has emerged as a strategic mechanism through which firms strengthen their environmental performance and long-term competitiveness. In the context of North Macedonian SMEs, stakeholders play a decisive role in shaping the extent, direction and success of green innovation practices. This study focuses exclusively on examining how key stakeholder groups such as customers, suppliers, competitors, employees, technology providers and government institutions influence the adoption, development and implementation of green innovations. Findings from the empirical analysis demonstrate that stakeholder pressures, expectations and collaborations act as critical drivers for stimulating eco-innovative activities within SMEs. Customers increasingly demand environmentally friendly products, suppliers facilitate access to greener materials and technologies, while employees contribute through environmentally responsible behavior and internal capabilities. Competitors accelerate innovation by creating competitive pressures, and government institutions further reinforce green transformation through regulations, incentives and policy frameworks.