Received 16.07.2025, Revised 18.11.2025, Accepted 23.12.2025

Conceptual approaches to forming an innovation ecosystem in manufacturing enterprises

Dmytro Ivashkin

The increasing complexity of global supply chains and the growing demand for sustainable practices necessitate the development of collaborative networks that integrate diverse stakeholders to foster innovation and resilience. The aim of this study was to develop an integrated strategy for shaping innovation ecosystems in manufacturing through the synthesis of theoretical frameworks and the analysis of the application in industrial contexts. The study employed a systematic literature review and conceptual synthesis to examine ecosystem dynamics and approaches to innovation portfolio formation. The results indicated that innovation ecosystems evolve through four stages: conceptual design, in which firms define shared objectives and identify key actors; construction, where partnerships and governance structures are established; exploitation and maintenance, focused on performance optimisation and the scaling of innovations; and transformation, which ensures adaptation to market or regulatory changes. Individual projects within ecosystems progress through phases of anticipation, emergence, growth, maturity, knowledge transfer, and renewal, enabling the management of diverse initiatives such as industrial design or sustainable energy solutions. The application of fuzzy set methods with a desirability scale ranging from 0 to 1 allows projects to be ranked according to criteria including technological feasibility, financial benefits, and sustainability impact, thereby supporting the formation of balanced portfolios. Smart technologies automate process optimisation, while investments in renewable energy sources and circular economy principles enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These approaches enable focal firms to coordinate collaboration with suppliers, start-ups, universities, and civil society, creating dynamic networks capable of adapting to technological and market changes. The practical value of the study lies in providing recommendations for the development of flexible innovation portfolios, the use of data-sharing platforms, and the adoption of sustainable practices to reduce risks and increase value

life cycle stages; portfolio formation; Triple Helix model; Industry 4.0; smartisation; circular economy
8-19
Ivashkin, D. (2025). Conceptual approaches to forming an innovation ecosystem in manufacturing enterprises. Innovation and Sustainability, 5(4), 8-19. https://doi.org/10.31649/vis/4.2025.08

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