Abstract
Drawing from organising vision theory, relational view theory, and innovation ecosystem research, this study examines the activities, capabilities and actors’ roles underpinning the birth of embedded innovation ecosystems. Embedded ecosystems are a particular type of innovation ecosystems which are organised around a focal firm. While there is growing research examining the emergence and evolution of innovation ecosystems over time, how focal organisations drive the creation of embedded innovation ecosystem is less examined. Building on expert interviews with stakeholders actively involved in the birth of embedded ecosystems in large technology firms, this study identifies six components, including three activities: Interpretation of ecosystem value proposition, Legitimisation of the embedded innovation ecosystem and Ecosystem governance; two capabilities - Complementary capabilities and Relation specific ecosystem assets; and one role - Ecosystem driver - which characterise the birth of an embedded innovation ecosystem. These six components together explain ecosystem’s ability to realise its value proposition. These components vary along four stages involved in the birth of the ecosystem birth. The findings contribute to research on innovation ecosystems by developing a conceptual framework clarifying the actors’ roles, capabilities and activities involved in the birth of an embedded innovation ecosystem, and their evolution across the different stages involved in this process.