Blurring boundaries: knowledge dynamics in organizations, collaborations, and innovation ecosystems

While research on inter-organizational collaborations has received significant attention from management scholars, the innovation ecosystem concept presents a relatively new phenomenon. Both concepts are characterized by value creation and value capturing dynamics, yet few attempts have been made to integrate them theoretically. We draw upon the knowledge-based view to theorize on what constitutes an innovation ecosystem and on the role of multi-lateral inter-organizational collaborations within innovation ecosystems. To this end, we present an integrated framework and five key propositions. We explore how the knowledge-based view lends itself towards multi-level theorization at the organizational, inter-organizational, and ecosystem level, and contributes to a more profound understanding of how value creation and value capture through collaborations take place in the wider context of an innovation ecosystem. Our work provides insights to innovation policymakers and managers on the establishment of R&D consortia as a measure to stimulate innovation and to promote the establishment and growth of (regional) innovation ecosystems.