Commitment in innovation ecosystems: relational pathways to competitive advantage and triple bottom line value creation

Purpose This study aims to examine how commitment within innovation ecosystems (IE) contributes to multidimensional value creation from a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective, addressing key gaps in the literature by focusing on relational dynamics and analysing how IE commitment translates into economic, social, and environmental outcomes, as well as the conditions under which these effects are reinforced. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a survey of 184 firms involved in collaborative innovation projects within IE. Using validated measurement scales, the study applies covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships. The model integrates mediation and moderation analyses to examine the role of competitive advantage as a mediating mechanism and organizational interdependence as a moderator. Findings The results indicate that IE commitment positively affects competitive advantage, which fully mediates the relationship between commitment and TBL value creation. Thus, commitment operates indirectly by enabling firms to develop innovation-related capabilities. Furthermore, organizational interdependence significantly strengthens the effect of commitment on competitive advantage, highlighting its role as a critical contextual factor. Originality/value This study contributes to the IE literature by broadening the relational dynamics approach to include IE commitment as a central variable. It provides theoretical advances that position firm commitment as a key driver of multidimensional value creation and identifies competitive advantage as the central mechanism linking commitment to outcomes. Moreover, it introduces organizational interdependence as a boundary condition that clarifies when commitment is at its most effective. By integrating Commitment-Trust Theory, the relational view, and the TBL framework, it offers a comprehensive explanation of value creation in IE.