A Conceptual Framework for Managing Open Innovation Ecosystems in Accordance with the Requirements of the Fifth Industrial Revolution
Reza Rostamzadeh, Figen Yıldırım, Jonas Šaparauskas, Zenonas Turskis, Shahryar Ghorbani, Hero Isavi
Keywords:
Open Innovation Ecosystem, Fifth Industrial Revolution, Infrastructure Management, Open Innovation, Infrastructure Threshold, Ecosystem Governance, Sustainable Development
Abstract:
This study develops a comprehensive framework for managing open innovation ecosystems in the fifth industrial revolution (5IR) to enhance competitiveness at firm, sectoral, and national levels. The research addresses critical deficiencies in existing ecosystem management and re-evaluates traditional open innovation paradigms to support sustainable competitive advantage in technology-driven environments. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively selected experts, practitioners, and policymakers until theoretical saturation. In the quantitative phase, 350 valid questionnaires were analyzed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM), MICMAC, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to validate the framework. The research identifies seven critical dimensions: ecosystem governance, inter-organizational collaboration, data and technology management, infrastructure development, human resource empowerment, transparency and oversight, and long-term sustainability. Results indicate that infrastructure development is the most crucial foundational factor (impact factor: 0.87), with a calculated threshold of 0.65 for ecosystem success. The findings demonstrate that integrating technological, human, and institutional dimensions is essential for high-performing innovation ecosystems. Enhancements at foundational levels, specifically infrastructure, yield multiplier effects that strengthen innovation capacity and overall competitive positioning. This framework provides actionable insights for policymakers and managers to foster resilient and competitive innovation ecosystems in the 5IR era.
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 A Conceptual Framework for Managing Open Innovation Ecosystems in Accordance with the Requirements of the Fifth Industrial Revolution [PDF file] [Filesize: 530.86 KB]
 10.7441/joc.2026.03.12
Rostamzadeh, R., Yıldırım, F., Šaparauskas, J., Turskis, Z., Ghorbani, S., & Isavi, H. (2026). A conceptual framework for managing open innovation ecosystems in accordance with the requirements of the fifth industrial revolution. Journal of Competitiveness, 18(3), 359–381. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2026.03.12
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