Network and Trade Associations: a longitudinal analysis of their role in the face of the new market challenges.

Recently, various political, economic, social, and environmental events have compelled companies to cultivate resilience, adaptability to the continuous challenges and changes in the market. Alongside, the theme of sustainability, encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions, has gained prominence, prompting firms to seek resilience-building strategies. In this complex and dynamic context business relationships could sustain firms both in increasing the resilience of the companies and in achieving common sustainability goals. Previous researches have predominantly focused on business actors, overlooking social and political actors. Among these the Trade Associations could play a relevant role. This research aims to further investigate the role of Trade Associations (service provider, informant, representative and aggregator) in business networks considering the dynamic environment. Finally, in a network perspective, it will further evaluate how the TAs could support the SMEs in the achievement of their environmental-social-economic sustainable goals, in turn allowing their economical growth. An ethnographic approach will be used to better investigate the topic, collaborating with an important local TA.