Strategic conditions for the emergence of innovation ecosystems: Lessons from food and gastronomy

The establishment of innovation ecosystems has become an increasingly prevalent strategy for fostering territorial, economic and social development. However, the existing literature provides limited insights into the strategic conditions that enable the emergence of such ecosystems. This paper addresses this gap by identifying the critical elements and mechanisms underpinning their creation. Specifically, it examines five leading food and gastronomy-focused innovation ecosystems in high-cost economies – Japan, Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Israel –. Using a case study approach, the research draws on 53 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders engaged in each ecosystem. The paper offers several theoretical contributions. First, it assesses the extent to which the mechanisms of ecosystem emergence proposed in the literature align with empirical reality, revealing variations in their intensity and manifestation. Second, it identifies nine dimensions as the foundational determinants necessary for ecosystem formation. Third, it underscores the need for a governance shift from centralised orchestration to a more adaptive and dynamic network choreography. Finally, it advances the theoretical debate on ecosystem life cycles by demonstrating that the boundaries between phases of emergence and maturity are more blurred in practice than assumed in existing models, thereby calling for further refinement of ecosystem development theories. • Five leading food and gastronomy innovation ecosystems in high-cost economies are analysed. • Insights from 53 in-depth interviews reveal the necessary strategic conditions for ecosystem emergence. • Through a comparative case study we illustrate how innovation ecosystems emerge. • We provide actionable lessons for fostering and sustaining innovation ecosystems globally. • The study explores governance transitions from centralised orchestration to more adaptive network choreographies.