Implications of open eco-innovation for sustainable development: Evidence from the European renewable energy sector

Abstract

This study aims to look inside the vague construct of an open eco-innovation (OE) network to reveal underlying strategic factors of combining complementary resources to overcome complexity. Results show that uncertain economic outcomes might reduce the motives of certain partners to engage in OE. In this case, OE network transformation is needed to reduce risks of market failure, driven by bridging nodes. This transformation should focus on exploration and future complementarities of network members, instead of exploitation and existing complementarities, despite technological maturity. This study is the first to demonstrate the significance of future complementarities in OE network evolution.

Keywords

• Sustainable development
• Open innovation
• Ecological innovation
• Inter-organizational network
• Energy sector, renewable energy