The Development of Innovation Ecosystems in Cities : An Institutional Work Approach

The innovation literature is growing rapidly and one of the main concerns is about the contexts that encourage and strengthen the results of innovation. This paper sheds light on the process of fostering and developing innovation ecosystems in cities with an institutional work perspective, considering the need to institutionalize collaboration. The paper uses the case study method, in a descriptive and processual approach. The study was conducted in two Latin America cities: Porto Alegre and Florianópolis, with a cultural context of non-cooperation background. The findings bring that innovation ecosystem development occurs in three phases, involving three groups of roles: 1) Preparing for Collaboration is related to leaders; 2) Strengthening Collaboration expands the practices and adjusts the focus to supporters; and 3) Disseminating Collaboration keeps extending the scope and has relevance to community. The results can help other cities or regions to promote their own innovation ecosystems