Title: Creating and capturing value in a regional innovation ecosystem: a study of how manufacturing SMEs develop collaborative solutions

Authors: Agnieszka Radziwon; Marcel Bogers; Arne Bilberg

Addresses: Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark ' Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 25, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark ' Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark

Abstract: We investigate how a set of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can engage in business model development within a regional innovation ecosystem. Based on a case of Danish manufacturing SMEs that developed their local ecosystem in an innovative automation project, we find key drivers and challenges that these companies encountered while creating and capturing value both for them and the ecosystem at large. While the value creation process is enabled by common goals and financial support, companies need to balance their core activities with their commitment to the joint initiative. Moreover, ecosystem development is centrally dependent on the value-capture process, which also takes place at the inter-organisational level. Such open innovation process implies a purposive management of knowledge flows at the level of the innovation ecosystem that fits a multi-layered structure of the business model. Our findings also highlight the underlying connection between the business model and ecosystem concepts.

Keywords: ecosystem; open innovation; low-tech; manufacturing; small- and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; business model; action research; case study; collaboration; coopetition; goals; knowledge; motivation; value capture; value creation; leadership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2017.085694

International Journal of Technology Management, 2017 Vol.75 No.1/2/3/4, pp.73 - 96

Accepted: 31 Jan 2016
Published online: 08 Aug 2017 *

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