Purpose – This study explores how entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) enable SME manufacturing firms to orchestrate their resources for innovation processes in response to evolving market demands.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on a case study approach comprising 26 interviews with ESO key actors and SME managers, as well as archival material from these organizations.

Findings – The results indicate that the resource orchestration (RO)–driven translation capabilities of ESO staff across different business contexts constitute central mechanisms in the innovative solutions of SMEs. However, the SME managers’ interpretation of the RO mechanisms that generated innovative solutions diverged from that of the former group.

Originality – This study contributes by extending resource orchestration theory beyond the firm level, uncovering the mediating role of entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) in shaping innovation-oriented RO processes in SMEs. By identifying the microfoundations of ESO-driven translation capabilities and their divergent interpretations by SME managers, the paper offers novel insights into the contextual contingencies of RO and provides a more nuanced understanding of how external actors foster innovation under dynamic market conditions.