The emergence of digital innovations in the pre-emergence phase of self-sovereign identity in Finland

Digital innovations (DIs) affect individuals, organisations, industries, and economies. However, the extant literature lacks an understanding of how DIs emerge and how they shape their environment in the very early, pre-emerging phase of a technology, where the technology can influence many industries. To understand the pre-emerging phase, we employ stage-based modelling by analysing rich qualitative data in the context of self-sovereign identity (SSI) technology. Our results identify the interoperability (i.e., the ability of multiple systems to interact with each other) requirement of DIs as a shaping factor of their emergence. Further, we propose a stage model that explains the emergence of SSI-facilitated DIs and an SSI innovation-fostering environment. The model consists of three qualitatively different stages with stage-specific salient questions, mechanisms, and outcomes. This work primarily contributes to the DI literature in the SSI context and has policy and practical implications for regulators and other practitioners.