Knowledge management model in the integration of open innovation and circular economy driven by digital intelligence: A comparative multi-case study

While emerging digital technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data analytics, and digital twins—have reshaped knowledge management practices, their combined potential to support knowledge-based innovation and sustainability remains underexplored. This study proposes and validates an integrated knowledge management model enabled by digital intelligence that systematically connects open innovation and circular economy strategies. Grounded in the Knowledge-Based View, this study conceptualizes digital intelligence as a dynamic enabler that enhances firms’ capabilities to absorb, integrate, and apply distributed knowledge across organizational boundaries. A comparative multi-case design was applied across four industry benchmark companies, such as PDD Holdings, Huawei, State Grid, and Siemens, using a mixed-methods approach that combined document analysis, 262 survey responses, and expert interviews. Findings show that knowledge management powered by digital intelligence enables the integration of open innovation and circular economy practices by automating knowledge capture, facilitating cross-boundary collaboration, and enabling real-time, sustainability-oriented decision-making. Theoretically, the study extends the knowledge-based view to include digital intelligence-driven mechanisms; empirically, it offers a validated framework applicable across industries. These insights provide practical guidance for organizations to align their innovation performance with sustainability goals in the digital age.