Exploring how different innovation ecosystems create shared value: insights from a multiple case study analysis

Abstract

PurposeInnovation ecosystems (IEs) have attracted the attention of policymakers and researchers because of their potential to positively affect territories, creating shared value. However, due to the fragmentation of IEs, how this happens in different IEs has been explored only partially. This research aims to bridge this gap, aiming to support policymakers in understanding how to foster shared value in diverse IEs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies, based on the literature, two “drivers of aggregation” of IE's actors as key dimensions characterizing shared value in IEs, namely physical proximity and dominant issue. If these are combined, three archetypes emerge: Hub- and Chain-Driven, Place-Driven, Competence- and Issue-Driven IEs.Then, elements useful for understanding shared value creation in these archetypes are framed and studied in real cases.FindingsResults reveal that aggregation drivers affect shared value creation, which differ among archetypes: in Competence- and Issue-Driven IEs alignment is challenged by the low physical proximity, which in Place-Driven IEs is high, but not enough to grant shared value; in Hub- and Chain-Driven IEs, the hub is the orchestrator, representing both a driver and a risk.Originality/valueDifferences in shared value creation processes relate to the set-up of the IE, which has relevant implications for policy definition. In Competence- and Issue-Driven IEs, policies at diverse levels align in funding and promoting the IE; in Place-Driven IEs, policies support anchors' development on-site; in Hub- and Chain-Driven IEs, policies, sometimes absent, should foster partnerships for projects for the territory, IE's enlargement and resilience.

The struggle of sensor-based digital servitization: analysis and perspectives for organizational digital transformation in SMEs

“…The challenge for companies is to strive for the functionality and effectiveness of technologies and service offerings to enable shared value creation for all stakeholders within the ecosystem (Winby and Mohrman, 2018). To successfully implement digital technology and enable interactions between individuals, teams and organizations, it is fundamentally important to understand the complexity of the innovation ecosystem (Pasmore et al ., 2019; Piantoni et al ., 2023; Winby and Mohrman, 2018). Given the limited resources of SMEs, ecosystems can provide support and opportunities for collaboration to overcome these limitations and restrictions (Benitez et al ., 2020a; Ghobakhloo and Iranmanesh, 2021; Toth et al ., 2020).…”