The study, conducted by Assoc. Prof. Yazıcı in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Mesut Öztırak of Istanbul Medipol University and Asst. Prof. Vildan Bayram of Istanbul Aydın University, comprehensively analyzes the impact of digitalization and technological innovation on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a sample of 11 countries that joined the European Union after 2004.
The study employed quantile regression and Kernel Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) methods using data from 2000 to 2023, and evaluated the effects of digitalization on sustainable development performance across different development levels.
According to the study findings, digitalization positively and significantly impacts sustainable development indicators across all country groups. The impact of digital investments is particularly strong in countries with lower sustainability performance. In contrast, the impact of technological innovation remains limited and indirect, emphasizing the need for institutional, infrastructural, and strategic support to enhance this impact.
The article demonstrates that digitalization is a fundamental tool not only for economic growth but also for social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and governance quality. The study highlights the need for policymakers to integrate digital transformation strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In this respect, the research offers significant academic and practical contributions to aligning digital infrastructure investments and innovation policies with the sustainable development vision in the new European Union member states.
