IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/anresc/v74y2025i2d10.1007_s00168-025-01369-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Managing social capital networks in digital international innovation ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Ilse Ivette Reyes Bautista

    (Autonomous University of Querétaro)

  • Luis Rodrigo Valencia Pérez

    (Autonomous University of Querétaro)

  • Rafael Palacios Bustamante

    (Business and Law School Berlin)

Abstract

This study operationalizes the concepts of social capital theory through social network analysis. By using this methodology, this research aims to deepen the understanding of how the dynamics of social capital networks are related to the consolidation and sustainability of innovation ecosystems, particularly in the context of digital entrepreneurship platforms. This case study focuses on the International Entrepreneurship Lab Smart Money (IELSM), a digital platform comprising more than 100 organizations from various sectors and countries, mostly in Latin America. Three network subsets around business models were constructed through in-depth interviews with key actors in the IELSM platform. Subsequently, five structural characteristics of the networks were studied via quantitative analysis: ecosystem connectivity, reciprocity, resistance to linkages across sectors, stakeholder diversity, and resource flow difficulty. Based on correlational analysis, a composite index that reflects the maturity of the social capital network is proposed. When applied in similar contexts, this index can provide a comprehensive understanding of social capital dynamics and guide the development of effective strategies for network management. Our findings revealed a strong correlation between reciprocity and ecosystem connectivity. This suggests that a network with greater social cohesion generates more links in which organizations share resources bidirectionally, representing significant potential for mutual value creation. Negative correlations between reciprocity and stakeholder diversity, as well as between ecosystem connectivity and stakeholder diversity, highlight intersectoral cooperation challenges. Social capital networks exhibit complex, nonlinear growth linked to variations in behavior and structure, highlighting the practical implications for managing innovation ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilse Ivette Reyes Bautista & Luis Rodrigo Valencia Pérez & Rafael Palacios Bustamante, 2025. "Managing social capital networks in digital international innovation ecosystems," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 74(2), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:74:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s00168-025-01369-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-025-01369-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00168-025-01369-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00168-025-01369-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roundy, Philip T. & Bradshaw, Mike & Brockman, Beverly K., 2018. "The emergence of entrepreneurial ecosystems: A complex adaptive systems approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-10.
    2. Azagra-Caro, Joaquín M. & Barberá-Tomás, David & Edwards-Schachter, Mónica & Tur, Elena M., 2017. "Dynamic interactions between university-industry knowledge transfer channels: A case study of the most highly cited academic patent," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 463-474.
    3. Granstrand, Ove & Holgersson, Marcus, 2020. "Innovation ecosystems: A conceptual review and a new definition," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 90.
    4. Artūras Kaklauskas & Audrius Banaitis & Fernando A. F. Ferreira & João J. M. Ferreira & Dilanthi Amaratunga & Natalija Lepkova & Ieva Ubartė & Nerija Banaitienė, 2018. "An Evaluation System for University–Industry Partnership Sustainability: Enhancing Options for Entrepreneurial Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Rocha, Augusto & Brown, Ross & Mawson, Suzanne, 2022. "Reprint of: Capturing conversations in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    6. Aalbers, Rick & Dolfsma, Wilfred & Koppius, Otto, 2013. "Individual connectedness in innovation networks: On the role of individual motivation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 624-634.
    7. Pim Krom & Laura Piscicelli & Koen Frenken, 2022. "Digital Platforms for Industrial Symbiosis," Journal of Innovation Economics, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(3), pages 215-240.
    8. Loet Leydesdorff & Henry Etzkowitz, 1998. "The Triple Helix as a model for innovation studies," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 25(3), pages 195-203, June.
    9. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    10. Christina Theodoraki & David B. Audretsch & Didier Chabaud, 2023. "Advances in entrepreneurial ecosystem and places: time, space and context. Special issue editorial," Revue de l'Entrepreneuriat, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(HS2), pages 11-25.
    11. Johnston, Andrew & Huggins, Robert, 2018. "Partner selection and university-industry linkages: Assessing small firms' initial perceptions of the credibility of their partners," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 15-26.
    12. Christina Theodoraki & David Audretsch & Didier Chabaud, 2023. "Advances in entrepreneurial ecosystem and places: time, space and context," Post-Print hal-04676727, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Baldwin, Carliss Y. & Bogers, Marcel L.A.M. & Kapoor, Rahul & West, Joel, 2024. "Focusing the ecosystem lens on innovation studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    2. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Carmona-Lavado, Antonio & Gimenez-Fernandez, Elena M. & Vlaisavljevic, Vesna & Cabello-Medina, Carmen, 2023. "Cross-industry innovation: A systematic literature review," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    4. Jeandri Robertson, 2020. "Competition in Knowledge Ecosystems: A Theory Elaboration Approach Using a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    5. Fabiano, Gianluca & Marcellusi, Andrea & Favato, Giampiero, 2021. "R versus D, from knowledge creation to value appropriation: Ownership of patents filed by European biotechnology founders," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Aki Harima & Jan Harima & Jörg Freiling, 2024. "Ecosystem Orchestration: Unpacking the Leadership Capabilities of Anchor Organizations in Nascent Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(6), pages 1404-1450, November.
    7. Fahimeh Khatami & Enrico Cagno & Luboš Smrčka & Zoltan Rozsa, 2024. "Assessing the role of FinTech in entrepreneurial ecosystems at the international level," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 3373-3402, December.
    8. Laurence Cloutier & Karim Messeghem, 2022. "Whirlwind model of entrepreneurial ecosystem path dependence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 611-625, August.
    9. Sanzo-Pérez, María José & Álvarez-González, Luis I., 2022. "Partnerships between Spanish social enterprises and nonprofits: A rich hybridity-based setting for social innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    10. Yunan Wang & Jing Xiao & Zhi Xu, 2025. "Digital Transformation Drives Regional Innovation Ecosystem Resilience: A Study Based on the Dynamic QCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-31, September.
    11. Pereira, Vijay & Nair, Asha KS. & Bhattacharyya, Som Sekhar, 2025. "Exploring and investigating the complementarity and multidimensionality of innovation for sustainability research: Past present and future," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    12. Zhang, Jing A. & O'Kane, Conor & Bai, Tao, 2024. "How do university-firm interactions affect firm innovation speed? The case of Chinese science-intensive SMEs," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(7).
    13. Marquardt, Leon & Harima, Aki, 2024. "Digital boundary spanning in the evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    14. Siaw, Christopher Agyapong & Sarpong, David, 2021. "Dynamic exchange capabilities for value co-creation in ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 493-506.
    15. Stephen Mago & Stephan van der Merwe, 2023. "Exploring Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Developed Countries: A Systematic Review," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    16. Singh, Kuldeep & Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Mariani, Marcello & Wamba, Samuel Fosso, 2025. "Cybersecurity resilience and innovation ecosystems for sustainable business excellence: Examining the dramatic changes in the macroeconomic business environment," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. DeJong, William M. & de Vries, Henk J., 2025. "A socio-mathematical definition of innovation – The distinction with ordinary change," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    18. Caccamo, Marta & Pittino, Daniel & Tell, Fredrik, 2023. "Boundary objects, knowledge integration, and innovation management: A systematic review of the literature," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    19. Lijuan Huang & Jing Tan & Guojie Xie & Yu Tian, 2024. "The driving pathways for the construction of rural e-commerce entrepreneurial ecosystem based on the TOE framework," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    20. Lyudmila A. Mochalova & Olga S. Eremeeva & Vladimir N. Podkorytov, 2024. "Circular economy ideas in the practice of industrial ecosystems in Russia," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 87-109, April.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:74:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s00168-025-01369-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.