Creation of an Innovation Ecosystem – Automating the Reporting Of CO2 Emissions in the Built Environment

Innovation ecosystems allow organizations to engage in inter-organizational collaborative activities supporting long-term success in highly competitive business environments. Innovation ecosystems encompassing digital platforms are popular since the need for data exchange between organizations is growing exponentially, and the effective use of data necessitates collaboration among various organizations. Theoretical models for managing innovation ecosystems exist. However, less is known about how to create them in practice. Hence, this study describes how an innovation ecosystem encompassing a data exchange platform was purposefully created for automating the indirect CO₂ emission calculation and reporting in the real estate and construction sector. Action research was applied to steer the innovation ecosystem creation. The study finds that an active steering group sharing a common vision and logic was crucial for ecosystem creation. Commitment and trust between the ecosystem members needed to be developed actively using various intervention efforts and tangible development activities, such as developing co-creation rules, a data-sharing model, shared logic, and a vision for the ecosystem members. In the initial phases, the ecosystem was governed following the ecosystem-as-affiliation model. Later, the ecosystem was managed by applying the ecosystem-as-structure model because it supported the ecosystem’s shared logic and vision.