Escaping the Digital Periphery: Toward Technological Sovereignty in Developing Nations

    In recent decades, the worldwide course of technological advancement has been characterized by swift and significant change.  Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), are transforming economies, societies, and governance frameworks (Naeim et al., 2025; Rajalakshmi and Wahab, 2025; Chan and Lau; 2023; Lomakin et al., 2022).  Although these advancements present new opportunities, they also introduce significant problems, especially for developing nations attempting to incorporate technology into their development strategies.

    Developing nations frequently emerge as late adopters and net importers of technical goods and platforms.  This dynamic renders them vulnerable: whereas they gain access to sophisticated tools and systems, they simultaneously face the possibility of prolonged digital dependency (Lambert et al., 2024; Harley, 2022).  Technologies are often implemented without adequate localization, adaption, or integration into local innovation ecosystems (Du and Wang, 2024). Consequently, rather than facilitating equitable growth, technologies may exacerbate existing structural imbalances (Talbert-Johnson, 2004).

    Digital dependency emerges in various forms: reliance on foreign cloud infrastructure, restricted control over national data flows, dependence on proprietary software and hardware, and inadequate local capability for research and development and technology production.  These issues are exacerbated by deficiencies in infrastructure (Glukhov et al., 2023), digital literacy (Reddy et al., 2023; Tinmaz et al., 2022; Santoso et al., 2019), cybersecurity preparedness (Neri et al., 2024; Hasan et al., 2021) and regulatory consistency (Avduevskaya et al., 2023; Shawoo et al., 2023; Pyykkö et al., 2021).

    However, reliance is not unavoidable. History provides instances of nations that have effectively transitioned from technology reliance to innovative leadership.  South Korea's Heavy and Chemical Industry initiative in the 1970s and China's current "Made in China" plan both exemplify intentional state-directed endeavors to localize manufacturing, stimulate domestic innovation, and establish globally competitive industries (Whulanza et al., 2025).

    Currently, some emerging countries are exploring similar pathways.  In Africa, initiatives like Rwanda's investment in local technology hubs and Kenya's advancement of mobile payment systems illustrate how local innovation may flourish in conducive environments (Ndubuisi et al., 2021).  Governments in Asia and Latin America are implementing policies that emphasize open-source technologies, support domestic startups, enhance STEM education, and promote public-private partnership (Banga, 2022)

    Nonetheless, such endeavours necessitate more than good intention. They require continuous investments in human capital, infrastructure, and institutional capability. The establishment of comprehensive, forward-thinking, and robust policy frameworks is equally crucial. This entails not just endorsing local industries but also cultivating global relationships that respect local goals and circumvent trends of economic post-imperialism in technical transfer (Lu and Qiu, 2023; Hairong and Sautman, 2023).

    Research on digital sovereignty, innovation systems, and technology policy can provide practical methods for countries aiming to address the intricacies of globalization and technological transformation (Moeis et al., 2024; Tan et al., 2023; Mariani et al., 2023). Similarly, interdisciplinary and interregional collaborations might elucidate how varied environments affect the efficacy or ineffectiveness of such initiatives (Whulanza, 2023).

    There is an urgent necessity for a more equal framework of international technology partnership (Ezdina et al., 2024). Developing nations require the opportunity and assistance to build their own innovation ecosystems (Sayed and Agndal, 2022; Stahl, 2022). This necessitates a paradigm shift—from perceiving these nations solely as marketplaces for technical goods to acknowledging them as viable hubs of invention and production in their own right.

    This issue consolidates several perspectives that directly address these subjects.  Through analysis of national innovation systems, case studies of successful localization initiatives, and critical evaluations of global governance frameworks (Babkin et al., 2023; Zagloel et al., 2023; Ramakrishna et al., 2023).  The articles presented provide valuable insights for individuals interested in the future of technology in developing contexts.