Sustainability of Innovation Ecosystems: Case Study “Digital Innovation Hub Innovamare“

Innovation ecosystems, as important models for fostering sustainable development, technological progress, and competitiveness in a modern society, enable the synergy of knowledge, technology, and capital to create innovative solutions. Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs), as key actors within the innovation ecosystem, provide infrastructural and expert support to entrepreneurs during the digital and green transition process. This paper analyzes the process of establishing an innovation ecosystem through a case study of the Digital Innovation Hub Innovamare, focused on the development and implementation of innovative marine technologies within the framework of the blue economy. This paper aims to explore and explain the process of establishing DIH Innovamare as a sustainable innovation ecosystem. The study identifies the key phases in the development of DIH Innovamare, from initiation, planning, and financing models to the establishment of its operational structure and sustainability model. Special emphasis is put on the roles of public institutions, academia, the private sector, and NGOs, as well as the importance of alignment with national and EU strategic frameworks. The results of the conducted analysis and research indicate that DIH Innovamare represents an example of successful establishment and implementation of an innovation ecosystem specialized in the field of the blue economy, contributing to the achievement of sustainable blue economy development through the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and IoT solutions. Although it faces challenges such as long-term financial sustainability, the established DIH Innovamare model demonstrates high potential for replication and scaling in other sectors and regions.