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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 202583Digitalization of MSMEs in Timor: Technological Integration as a Strategy to Increase Competitiveness in the Era Without BordersRicky Ekaputra FoehBusiness Administration Study Program, Universitas Nusa Cendana, IndonesiaEmail: ricky.foeh@staf.undana.ac.id AbstractThe digital transformation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is increasingly recognized as a critical pathway for enhancing regional economic resilience and competitiveness. This study investigates the digitalization of MSMEs in Timor, a peripheral region in Indonesia, with a focus on identifying structural constraints and proposing a collaborative strategy for technological integration. Employing a qualitative-descriptive methodology, data were gathered through literature review, field observation, and semi-structured interviews with MSME owners, ICT providers, and local government officials. The findings highlight three primary barriers to digital adoption: limited digital literacy among MSME actors, inadequate ICT infrastructure in rural areas, and insufficient coordination across institutional stakeholders. To address these issues, the study proposes a regionally adapted triple helix framework%u2014linking academia, industry, and government%u2014to foster inclusive digital transformation. The research contributes to the discourse on digital inclusion by emphasizing contextsensitive strategies for MSME empowerment in underdeveloped regions.Keywords: digital transformation, MSMEs, triple helix model, ICT infrastructure, Timor, inclusive innovation.