Coopetition as a Driver of Open Innovation: The Case of the Automotive Business Ecosystem

Abstract

Abstract

Our century is marked by increased globalization, intense competition, and rising customer expectations and uncertainties, pushing organizations toward collaborative practices that involve a broader network of stakeholders, including competitors. The automotive sector is among the industries most affected by this dynamic of innovation openness.

Grounded in open innovation and coopetition theory, this study examines the impact of coopetitive relations on open innovation practices within the automotive ecosystem of Renault, a major global company. Building on a literature review, we formulated hypotheses tested through quantitative analysis with SPSS. The findings reveal a positive relationship between coopetition and open innovation, highlighting the pivotal role of inbound open innovation as a distinctive practice in the automotive ecosystem. We recommend that ecosystem actors formalize coopetitive partnerships to strengthen inbound knowledge acquisition as a priority lever for innovation performance.

Keywords

Coopetition; Business ecosystem; Open innovation; Automotive sector