How Innovation Ecosystems Drive A Resilient Economy: A Panel Data Fuzzy-Set QCA Approach

In response to economic challenges arising from unforeseen events, cultivating innovation ecosystems is an essential strategy for enhancing economic resilience. This study employs symbiotic theory to clarify and better comprehend the role of innovation ecosystems in economic resilience. To this end, it identifies five essential components of innovation ecosystems and proposes a conceptual model. Panel data fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is utilized in the study to identify how these components combine and contribute to economic resilience. The findings reveal three primary configurations, classified as either platform-dominated or network-dominated. The platform-dominated configuration is favored in the eastern economic zone, while the network-dominated configuration is more prevalent in the central economic zone. Additionally, since the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation platforms and networks have become increasingly important in stimulating economic resilience. This study makes several contributions to the literature: (1) responding to the need for further exploration of economic resilience, especially in the post-epidemic era; (2) improving the theoretical comprehension of how innovation ecosystem components combine and interact to better illustrate economic resilience; (3) offering several innovation combinations that can enhance economic resilience through the application of panel data fsQCA methodology.