Title: How innovation ecosystem embeddedness promotes innovation performance improvement in non-core firms: an empirical study of Chinese firms

Authors: Shuwei Zang; Qimeng Wang; Haofu Wang; Mengyuan Sun

Addresses: School of Business, Qingdao University of China, Qingdao, 266061, China ' School of Business, Qingdao University of China, Qingdao, 266061, China ' Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100080, China ' School of Business, Qingdao University of China Qingdao, 266061, China

Abstract: Innovation ecosystem embeddedness is a crucial strategy for non-core firms to address resource deficiencies, achieve innovative development, and rebuild competitive advantages. This study collected sample data from 505 enterprises to empirically examine the relationship between innovation ecosystem embeddedness and the innovation performance of non-core firms, including the mediating role of organisational resilience and the moderating role of ecological maturity. The research revealed that both technological innovation embedding and business value-based embedding significantly positively impact the innovation performance of non-core firms. Organisational resilience partially mediates the influence of both technological innovation embedding and business value-based embedding on the innovation performance of non-core firms. Ecological maturity positively moderates the effects of both technological innovation embedding and business value-based embedding on the innovation performance of non-core firms. This study elucidates the mechanisms through which non-core firms achieve innovative development by embedding themselves in the innovation ecosystem. It provides both a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for non-core firms to leverage the innovation ecosystems to mitigate their disadvantages and achieve growth through innovation.

Keywords: innovation ecosystems; ecological non-core firms; organisational resilience; ecological maturity; innovation performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2025.151683

International Journal of Technology Management, 2025 Vol.98 No.2/3/4, pp.389 - 416

Received: 27 Feb 2024
Accepted: 13 Feb 2025
Published online: 13 Feb 2026 *

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