Innovation Ecosystem Report

The ZOOOM Project has as its primary objective to raise awareness about the emerging and increasing importance to generate and manage intellectual property within collaborative innovation and business ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on free and open-source software, open hardware, and open data (referred to as the 3Os). This deliverable D2.3 “Innovation ecosystem report” aims to assist key stakeholders within the different layers of the 3Os innovation ecosystem to understand and align their strategy and business model with the complexity characterising each ecosystem. To achieve this, the deliverable takes advantage of the adopted case-oriented approach and literature review applied and implemented respectively in the D2.1 “Literature review of business cases in 3Os” and D2.2 “Case study report”. In order to enable the key stakeholders of this project to navigate the complexity of applying innovation as a business strategy and model, we open the discussion by clarifying the differences among the types of ecosystems recognised in the business literature. Clarifying the distinctions among various types of ecosystems in the business literature is not merely an academic exercise; it is a practical necessity for those seeking to employ innovation as a strategic tool. By understanding the unique characteristics, players, strategies, and interactions within different ecosystem types, stakeholders can make informed decisions, forge effective partnerships, and navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape. This initial step is foundational for the ZOOOM Project in its pursuit of aligning business models with the dynamics of open-source innovation ecosystems, providing a solid footing for the subsequent stages of the project. The central elements of the different types of ecosystems and their evolution, i.e., leadership and alignment of incentives and values for the value proposition implementation, are discussed more in detail in relation to the legal perspective in order to underline how some licensing terms affect the dynamics, incentives and value creation processes within the different ecosystems.The discussion is complemented with two sources of evidence aimed at enriching this understanding with context-specific and case studies-based insights. Together, the case studies review and the interviews allow the ZOOOM Project to map out roles, strategies, and players within the 3Os innovation ecosystems more comprehensively. Findings result in a holistic view that encompasses both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical realities of ecosystem dynamics. By exploiting the main findings, the report concludes indeed by proposing a multilevel ecosystem framework for the 3Os, where different players are identified and connected in the different types of ecosystems both innovation based and business focused. Additionally, key players within the 3Os innovation ecosystem create feedback effects that sustain the vitality of other interconnected ecosystems.