Connecting, sharing knowledge, work and resources, and helping each other are essential for projects to move forward and truly add value. As the saying goes, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’
What are the key elements?
In addition to those I have mentioned (connecting, sharing, etc.), and after many years working in innovation ecosystems, I believe it is essential to have clear objectives and a well-structured organisation. We must realise that we are all in the same boat, just like the Apollo team at NASA.
Other elements to consider would be: having well-defined roles, having digital tools for collaboration (Asana, Trello), applying agile methodologies such as Scrum, and having trust-based leadership to manage differences within teams.
Who are the main players in these ecosystems?
A collaborative innovation ecosystem usually has a “triple helix” approach: government, universities and businesses, although in some cases there are also teams that are part of society and others that are part of international collaboration.
In terms of their roles, I would say there are several: articulators create spaces and platforms for collaboration, linkers generate synergies between organisations, and enablers provide financial, technical or training resources for ideas to grow. Added to these are knowledge generators, such as universities and R&D centres, promoters, who disseminate advances, and the community, made up of entrepreneurs and users who contribute value and direct involvement. Although in many cases I have worked with the same actor, such as Telefónica and Wayra (Telefónica’s corporate venture capital arm, which invests in technology start-ups with the potential to generate innovation within the group), several roles are assumed.
What benefits do innovation ecosystems bring to economic development?
They are essential as a driving force and bring multiple benefits such as boosting competitiveness, attracting investment, encouraging the establishment of local industries, promoting employment, and fostering the exchange of knowledge. In other words, they not only create wealth, but also make the economy more resilient and sustainable.
What do entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems have in common and how do they differ?
I would say that, although they share the essence of seeking new solutions that generate economic and social value, they operate on different levels. Entrepreneurship arises from individual initiatives, while ecosystems have a more profound network that integrates more actors. They operate on different scales and are united by innovation.
What examples of innovation ecosystems exist?
There is, for example, Silicon Valley (in the US), the most emblematic case, which combines venture capital with universities such as Stanford and a business environment open to disruption. In Spain, there are several notable innovation ecosystems, such as 22@ in Barcelona, which has become a leading technology district, and the Science and Technology Parks in cities such as Malaga, which bring together companies, universities and administrations in R&D. However, Telefónica has undoubtedly been a key player in promoting open innovation, creating a genuine ecosystem for start-ups through Wayra.
