Innovation Ecosystem Dynamics and Value Creation
Summary
Innovation ecosystems comprise networks of heterogeneous actors—including firms, research institutions, public bodies and complementors—that interact across organisational and geographical boundaries to co-create, exchange and commercialise novel technologies, products and services. These dynamic systems are underpinned by digital platforms, knowledge flows and resource interdependencies that enable rapid experimentation, modular integration and adaptive learning. The evolution of ecosystem dynamics is shaped by governance modes, orchestration strategies and the interplay of competitive and collaborative forces, yielding emergent properties that transcend the capabilities of individual participants.
Value creation within such ecosystems arises through the articulation of coherent value propositions, the mobilisation of complementary assets and the cultivation of shared standards and infrastructures. Recent advances have highlighted the role of ecosystem orchestration in aligning incentives and coordinating contributions without resorting to hierarchical control, while connectivity technologies and meta-ecosystem formations have expanded the locus of value beyond single industries. Attention to sustainability, resilience and multi-stakeholder performance has further underscored the global significance of managing ecosystem dynamics for economic growth, social welfare and environmental stewardship.
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Innovation Ecosystem Dynamics and Value Creation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in innovation ecosystem dynamics and value creation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Innovation ecosystem: A network of interdependent organisations and individuals that collaborate to generate and exchange knowledge, technologies and resources in pursuit of novel value propositions.
Ecosystem orchestration: The process by which a central actor or group of actors coordinates and aligns the activities of ecosystem participants to ensure coherent value creation without relying on hierarchical control.
Complementor: An organisation or actor that provides goods or services which enhance the value proposition of another firm’s offering within an ecosystem.
Meta-ecosystem: An overarching ecosystem that emerges when distinct ecosystems interlink through collaborative arrangements to co-create composite value propositions.
Value proposition: The bundle of benefits and experiences that an ecosystem delivers to end-users, distinguishing it from competing offerings.
References
- Connection successfully established: How complementors use connectivity technologies to join existing ecosystems – Four archetype strategies from the mobility sector. Technovation (2023).
- Ecosystem orchestration practices for industrial firms: A qualitative meta-analysis, framework development and research agenda. Journal of Business Research (2024).
- Mapping, analyzing and designing innovation ecosystems: The Ecosystem Pie Model. Long Range Planning (2020).
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