Digital Innovation Ecosystems for the Circular Economy

A Startup-Centric Perspective
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-3-032-26076-5
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

Reihe: Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management

This book explores the Innovation Ecosystems enabled by digital technologies from the start-ups perspective in the framework of Circular Economy. Bringing together contributions from geographically-diverse entrepreneurship scholars, it offers a unique startup-centric lens, investigating how emerging ventures collaborate with corporations, navigate power asymmetries, and leverage technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and data analytics to drive sustainable innovation. Through a blend of empirical case studies and conceptual frameworks, the book addresses key themes including startup–corporate collaboration dynamics, coopetition strategies, and digital platform governance. It also examines the impact of digital technologies on decision-making, resilience, and adaptability. Ideal for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, this book provides insights into how startups can catalyze systemic change and accelerate the transition toward sustainable, tech-driven innovation ecosystems.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Secundo, Giustina

Passaro, Renato

Bigliardi, Barbara

Felicetti, Alberto Michele

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Energie- & Versorgungswirtschaft Entsorgungswirtschaft
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Umweltökonomie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Forschung & Entwicklung (F&E), Innovation
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Unternehmensführung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: Introduction: Digital Innovation Ecosystems from the startup perspective.- Chapter 2: Digital Innovation Ecosystems: themes, theories and methods for a future research agenda.- Chapter 3: Framing Startup–Corporate Collaboration in Digital Innovation Ecosystems.- Chapter 4: Motivations And Risks Of Startup-Corporate Collaboration In (Sustainable) Innovation Ecosystem.- Chapter 5: Measuring Startup Competitiveness in Open Innovation Ecosystems: A Holistic KPI-Based Framework.- Chapter 6: The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics for Decision Making in Startups’ Value Creation within Digital Innovation Ecosystems.- Chapter 7: Exploring Digital Technologies within Industry-University Ecosystem.- Chapter 8: Corporate–Startup Collaborations in Circular Innovation: The Strategic Role of Circular-born Startups.- Chapter 9: Platform-based Ecosystems and the Circular Economy: Mechanisms Enabling Sustainable Value Creation.- Chapter 10: Practices and initiatives of  Circular Startups in enabling Innovation Ecosystems: connecting the dots by real world experiences.- Chapter 11: Empirical Evidence on Startup–Corporate Collaboration Dynamics in Digital Innovation Ecosystems: A Multiple-Case Analysis.- Chapter 12: Motivations And Risks In Practice: Empirical Insights From Startup–Corporate Partnerships.

Über Autor(innen)

Giustina Secundo is Vice Rector for Innovation and Third Mission and Full Professor of Management Engineering at LUM University Giuseppe Degennaro, Bari, Italy. With over 25 years of research experience, she has authored more than 200 international publications on the topic of Digital Transformation, Academic Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer and Digital Innovation Ecosystem. She is co-editor of the For her scientific achievements, she is included among the Top Scientists in major global rankings (Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers, Stanford/Scopus Top 2% Scientists since 2022).

Renato Passaro is Full Professor of Management Engineering at the University of Naples, Parthenope, Italy, where he teaches Supply Chain and Innovation Management. He has participated in numerous national and EU-funded research projects, including Horizon 2020 initiatives. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, circular startups, sustainable supply chains, and small business management, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications.

Barbara Bigliardi is Full Professor of Management Engineering at the University of Parma, Italy. Her research spans innovation, sustainability, and management, with over 200 publications. She serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the European Journal of Innovation Management and as an Editorial Board Member of Sustainability. For her scientific achievements, she has been included among the world’s leading scientists in major international rankings (Stanford/Scopus Top 2% Scientists since 2020).

Alberto Michele Felicetti is Associate Professor of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering at the University of Calabria, Italy. His work centers on collaborative networks, digitalization, and innovation management. He serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the European Journal of Innovation Management and has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications