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Systems of innovation and innovation ecosystems: a literature review in search of complementarities

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  • Nihad Faissal Bassis

    (Polytechnique Montréal)

  • Fabiano Armellini

    (Polytechnique Montréal)

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify to what extent the emerging theory of innovation ecosystems (IE) and the theory of systems of innovation (SI) are complementary and then identify how its communities could benefit from cross-fertilization. We performed a critical literature review of both topics using meta-synthesis as method to identify, analyze and compare the two theories. Using a framework, this paper explores the elements belonging to each theory’s domain, in order to identify the key factors necessary to compare the two theories. The results of this analysis show that both theories involve the assessment of three key aspects: the understanding of innovation activities, the role of the agents involved, and the interaction and resulting networks among them. A similarity was found showing that these two different theories are applications of System Thinking approach. Another finding, which has not been mentioned in previous research on the topic, is that the construction of the initial concepts of the IE theory was originally rooted in several SI elements. Finally, we found key factors that may be the cross-fertilization link between the two communities that represent each theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Nihad Faissal Bassis & Fabiano Armellini, 2018. "Systems of innovation and innovation ecosystems: a literature review in search of complementarities," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(5), pages 1053-1080, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:28:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1007_s00191-018-0600-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-018-0600-6
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    Cited by:

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    2. Dahesh, Mehran Badin & Tabarsa, Gholamali & Zandieh, Mostafa & Hamidizadeh, Mohammadreza, 2020. "Reviewing the intellectual structure and evolution of the innovation systems approach: A social network analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Charalambos Vlados & Fotios Katimertzopoulos, 2019. "The ¡°Mystery¡± of Innovation: Bridging the Economic and Business Thinking and the Stra.Tech.Man Approach," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(1), pages 236-262, March.
    4. Jugend, Daniel & Fiorini, Paula De Camargo & Armellini, Fabiano & Ferrari, Aline Gabriela, 2020. "Public support for innovation: A systematic review of the literature and implications for open innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    5. Gomes, Leonardo Augusto de Vasconcelos & Flechas, Ximena Alejandra & Facin, Ana Lucia Figueiredo & Borini, Felipe Mendes, 2021. "Ecosystem management: Past achievements and future promises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    6. Selma Leticia Capinzaiki Ottonicar & Paloma Marin Arraiza & Fabiano Armellini, 2020. "Opening Science and Innovation: Opportunities for Emerging Economies," Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 14(4), pages 95-111.
    7. Okpalaoka, Chijindu Iheanacho, 2023. "Research on the digital economy: Developing trends and future directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    8. Paredes-Frigolett, Harold & Pyka, Andreas & Leoneti, Alexandre Bevilacqua, 2021. "On the performance and strategy of innovation systems: A multicriteria group decision analysis approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Vyacheslav Volchik & Elena Maslyukova & Wadim Strielkowski, 2023. "Perception of Scientific and Social Values in the Sustainable Development of National Innovation Systems," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, April.
    10. Chipo Nancy Ngongoni & Sara (Saartjie) Grobbelaar & Cornelius Stephanus Schutte, 2022. "Making Sense of the Unknown: Using Change Attractors to Explain Innovation Ecosystem Emergence," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 227-252, April.
    11. Yanzhang Gu & Longying Hu & Hongjin Zhang & Chenxuan Hou, 2021. "Innovation Ecosystem Research: Emerging Trends and Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    12. Dong, Caiting & Liu, Xielin & Tang, Fangcheng & Qiu, Shumin, 2023. "How upstream innovativeness of ecosystems affects firms' innovation: The contingent role of absorptive capacity and upstream dependence," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    13. Cao, Qinwei & Qiu, Shunli & Huang, Jian, 2022. "Contradiction and mechanism analysis of science and technology input-output: Evidence from key universities in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    14. Granstrand, Ove, 2024. "A cooperative game theory systems approach to the value analysis of (innovation) ecosystems," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation ecosystems; Systems of innovation; Technology innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • P13 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Cooperative Enterprises
    • P51 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems - - - Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems

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