Drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability in a shared semiconductor infrastructure

A shared-use semiconductor research infrastructure can be studied as a local innovation ecosystem consisting of the infrastructure operating company and the user companies. The level of open innovation for sustainability activities possible to initiate in the infrastructure is affected by the operating company and the user companies. This study focuses on developing a conceptual framework for analysing the drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability in the research infrastructure. The research is done as a qualitative multiple case-study in the local semiconductor ecosystem in Otaniemi, Finland. We find out that the level of understanding and ambitions related to sustainability are diverse in the different user companies. Many factors can be considered both as drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability depending on the context and the companies’ ambition levels. The sustainability of a shared-use infrastructure is a complex topic that requires further research to better understand how open innovation for sustainability related activities can be brought forward in such an ecosystem. The study contributes to the current understanding of open innovation for sustainability by recognising the role of shared-used research infrastructure in innovation processes within the local ecosystem. • Among first qualitative studies of open innovation for sustainability in a shared-use semiconductor research infrastructure. • Evidence of drivers and barriers for open innovation for sustainability related activities from the perspective of the user companies within a shared-use research infrastructure. • Within a local ecosystem, joint sustainability measures in shared-use research infrastructure are supporting sustainability awareness and development in user companies and affecting their open innovation engagements. • For open innovation for sustainability within shared-use research infrastructure, it is crucial that sustainability is measured and considered also outside of the supply chain.