Business model innovation in SMEs engaging in innovation ecosystems. A decoupling perspective.

The diffusion of new technologies is posing firms to challenges, creating opportunities to develop radically new business models. SMEs are considered a driving force in most national economies, but at the same time they often suffer from lack of both financial and human resources. These weaknesses may be compensated by the participation in innovation ecosystems. The aim of this paper is to understand, through the lens of the institutional theory, how business model innovation can be implemented by both the relationships established within the ecosystem and the organizational capabilities of SMEs. To do so, the authors carried out an embedded case study on an Italian Industry 4.0 project. First findings show that innovation ecosystems could represent a strong driver for developing an innovative business model unless SMEs already own distinctive dynamic capabilities.