Hydrogen Economy Development Opportunities by Inter-Organizational Digital Knowledge Networks

Innovative power-to-X (P2X) technologies, as a set of emerging new solutions, could play a crucial role in creating sustainable, carbon-neutral economies, such as the hydrogen economy. These technologies, however, are generally not yet implemented on a commercial scale. This research focuses on how innovative, digital inter-organizational knowledge networks of industry representatives and universities could contribute to the commercial implementation of P2X technologies and increase the pace of sustainable hydrogen-based development. The findings of an extended case study with a hybrid (qualitative–quantitative) methodology and a five-year time horizon, suggest the need for a digital knowledge platform, where universities and industry representatives add and combine their knowledge. In contrast with expectations, however, the empirical results show that academia would, not only be capable of supporting the exploration of new solutions, but foster the exploitation of more mature technologies as well. Similarly, large energy companies could also drive exploratory activities, not only exploitative ones. The findings highlight the possible central role of the “system builder” actor, who integrates exploitative-explorative learning and facilitates the formation of a (digital) innovation ecosystem. By exceeding the dominant techno-economic and environmental aspects, this research contributes to the literature by highlighting the applicability of network-based innovation management theory for hydrogen economy research.