Digitalized Innovation Environments as Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Incubators for Companies - an explorative Case Study

Digitalized Innovation Environments (DIEs) are structured platforms that foster collaboration between universities and industry, providing advanced technological resources and a flexible space for innovation, skill development, and knowledge exchange. DIE is an umbrella term encompassing facilities such as makerspaces, FabLabs, and hackerspaces. This study examines the role of DIEs as incubators for industry-academia partnerships, with a focus on identifying the various collaboration formats established within these environments. The research identified three primary formats: short-term training initiatives, project-centered engagements, and long-term strategic alliances. Each format addresses different needs within the innovation ecosystem, ranging from skill acquisition and rapid prototyping to sustainable organizational transformation. These impacts were uncovered through a mixed-method case study approach, which followed and analyzed 47 corporate and startup collaborations over a seven-year period. Through a systematic process of data analysis and triangulation, additional factors were identified that play a significant role in the success of these collaborations. These factors are as multifaceted and complex as DIEs themselves, encompassing aspects such as government funding, administrative hurdles, and the diversity of the personnel involved. An accompanying survey of 39 collaboration participants further validated the qualitative findings, forming the basis for key practical implications. By providing a structured understanding of the functions and impacts of DIEs, this study offers valuable insights for optimizing these environments as dynamic centers of open and digital innovation and cross-sector collaboration, laying the groundwork for future research within university-industry ecosystems.