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How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?

Author

Listed:
  • Phil Brown

    (Department of Circular Product Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CE, The Netherlands)

  • Nancy Bocken

    (Department of Circular Product Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CE, The Netherlands
    The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics IIIEE, Lund University, PO Box 196, Lund SE-221 00, Sweden)

  • Ruud Balkenende

    (Department of Circular Product Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CE, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Collaborative innovation is necessary to explore and implement circular economy strategies. Yet, empirical investigations into such collaborations are scarce. It is unclear whether the circular context creates differences or represents adaptions within how collaborative innovation is conducted. We draw upon strategic management and open innovation literature to highlight what is known about collaborative innovation and the types of innovation conducted. We use these insights to investigate explorative qualitative case research into how practitioners in the Netherlands have conducted collaborative circular oriented innovation. Our findings show that open innovation criteria can aid our understanding and analysis. Key managerial considerations relate to the incremental or systemic nature of the innovation pursued, which induce different collaborative projects and knowledge management structures. For incremental innovation, we observe phases of collaboration, whereas for more systemic innovation, we observe a more collaborative portfolio and layered approach. Furthermore, the more radical innovation pursuits that explore slowing or recovery strategies, especially beyond business-to-business arrangements, challenge companies. A crucial challenge remains related to how to develop and assess collaborative and system-oriented business models in the transition towards a circular economy. Finally, future research is needed to assess whether the current modes of collaborative innovation are sufficient to deliver a circular economy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Phil Brown & Nancy Bocken & Ruud Balkenende, 2020. "How Do Companies Collaborate for Circular Oriented Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1648-:d:323949
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Buyukbalci, Pinar & Sanguineti, Francesca & Sacco, Federica, 2024. "Rejuvenating business models via startup collaborations: Evidence from the Turkish context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
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    5. Helen Toxopeus & Elisa Achterberg & Friedemann Polzin, 2021. "How can firms access bank finance for circular business model innovation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 2773-2795, September.
    6. Stuart Danvers & Jonathan Robertson & Ambika Zutshi, 2023. "Conceptualizing How Collaboration Advances Circularity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Joerg S. Hofstetter & Valentina Marchi & Joseph Sarkis & Kannan Govindan & Robert Klassen & Aldo R. Ometto & Katharina S. Spraul & Nancy Bocken & Weslynne S. Ashton & Sanjay Sharma & Melanie Jaeger-Er, 2021. "From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy—Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 21-47, June.
    8. Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Castillo-Ospina, Danika A. & Facin, Ana Lucia Figueiredo & Ferreira, Camila dos Santos & Ometto, Aldo Roberto, 2023. "Circular ecosystem innovation portfolio management," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    9. Vinicius Minatogawa & Matheus Franco & Izabela Simon Rampasso & Maria Holgado & Diego Garrido & Hernan Pinto & Ruy Quadros, 2022. "Towards Systematic Sustainable Business Model Innovation: What Can We Learn from Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-35, March.
    10. Mateusz Wielopolski & Willem Bulthuis, 2023. "The Better Building Initiative — a Collaborative Ecosystem Involving All Stakeholders as Catalyst to Accelerate the Adoption of Circular Economy Innovations in the Construction Sector," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 719-733, June.
    11. Moacir Godinho Filho & Luiza Monteiro & Renata de Oliveira Mota & Jessica dos Santos Leite Gonella & Lucila Maria de Souza Campos, 2022. "The Relationship between Circular Economy, Industry 4.0 and Supply Chain Performance: A Combined ISM/Fuzzy MICMAC Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, February.
    12. Chen Weijun, 2022. "The Impact of Government Support and Technological Innovation on Enterprise Performance: A Case Study of Guangdong Hi- tech Enterprises," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 14(1), pages 196-231.
    13. M. G. E. Velter & V. Bitzer & N. M. P. Bocken, 2022. "A Boundary Tool for Multi-stakeholder Sustainable Business Model Innovation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 401-431, June.
    14. Suzy C. Cortez & Adriana C. Cherri & Daniel Jugend & Gessica M. K. Jesus & Barbara S. Bezerra, 2022. "How Can Biodigesters Help Drive the Circular Economy? An Analysis Based on the SWOT Matrix and Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    15. Joaquin Sanchez-Planelles & Marival Segarra-Oña & Angel Peiro-Signes, 2020. "Building a Theoretical Framework for Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    16. Abderahman Rejeb & Karim Rejeb & Suhaiza Zailani & Yasanur Kayikci & John G. Keogh, 2023. "Examining Knowledge Diffusion in the Circular Economy Domain: a Main Path Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 125-166, March.
    17. Nathalia Suchek & Mário Franco, 2024. "Inter-organisational Cooperation Oriented Towards Sustainability Involving SMEs: a Systematic Literature Review," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1952-1972, March.
    18. Malte Jütting, 2020. "Exploring Mission-Oriented Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability: Towards a Literature-Based Typology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-28, August.

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