The Risk of Dissolution of Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems in Times of Crisis: The Electric Vehicle during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Manel Arribas-Ibar, Petra A. Nylund and Alexander Brem
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Manel Arribas-Ibar: Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic Barcelona, Spain
Petra A. Nylund: Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 19, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Innovation ecosystems evolve and adapt to crises, but what are the factors that stimulate ecosystem growth in spite of dire circumstances? We study the arduous path forward of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem and analyse in depth those factors that influence ecosystem growth in general and during the pandemic in particular. For the EV ecosystem, growth implies outcompeting the less sustainable internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, thus achieving a transition towards sustainable transportation. New mobility patterns provide a strategic opportunity for such a shift to green mobility and for EV ecosystem growth. For innovation ecosystems in general, we suggest that a crisis can serve as an opportunity for new innovations to break through by disrupting prior behavioural patterns. For the EV ecosystem in particular, it remains to be seen if the ecosystem will be able to capitalize on the opportunity provided by the unfortunate disruption generated by the pandemic.

Keywords: innovation ecosystem; innovation strategy; sustainability; electric vehicle; dominant design; crisis; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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