Ecosystem Interactions and the Integration of Sustainability-Oriented Technological Innovation. An exploratory study of how interactions between actors shape and impact the adoption of sustainability-oriented technological innovation in an innovation ecosystem: a case study on the Swedish agri-food system
(2026) BUSN09 20261Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- This thesis contributes to the understanding of sustainability-oriented technological innovation
(SOTI) by applying an innovation ecosystem perspective. The aim is to explore how interactions
between actors shape SOTI and how these interactions enable or constrain adoption in practice.
To address this purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted within the Swedish agri-food
innovation ecosystem, with particular attention to the integration of biotechnology-related
solutions in agricultural practice. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured
interviews with actors across the ecosystem, including primary producers, biotechnology firms,
innovation support actors, intermediaries, and institutional actors.
The findings... (More) - This thesis contributes to the understanding of sustainability-oriented technological innovation
(SOTI) by applying an innovation ecosystem perspective. The aim is to explore how interactions
between actors shape SOTI and how these interactions enable or constrain adoption in practice.
To address this purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted within the Swedish agri-food
innovation ecosystem, with particular attention to the integration of biotechnology-related
solutions in agricultural practice. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured
interviews with actors across the ecosystem, including primary producers, biotechnology firms,
innovation support actors, intermediaries, and institutional actors.
The findings suggest that SOTI is shaped not only by the characteristics of the technology itself,
but also by the interaction dynamics between ecosystem actors. Economic feasibility, trust and
legitimacy, regulatory conditions, compatibility with farm practices, sustainability expectations,
and market needs all influence whether innovation can move from development toward practical
adoption. The study further shows that primary producers play a central role in this process, as
they represent the point at which technological innovation must become usable, valuable, and
compatible with everyday operations. Overall, this thesis argues that the successful integration of
SOTI depends on the ecosystem’s ability to create alignment between technological possibilities,
economic realities, institutional conditions, and practical farm-level needs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9232056
- author
- Coleman Söderlund, Caeley Schae LU and van de Vondel, Timothée Louis Victor LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BUSN09 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Sustainability-Oriented Innovation, Technological Innovation, Innovation Ecosystem, Business Ecosystems, Ecosystem Interactions, Biotechnology, Innovation Adoption
- language
- English
- id
- 9232056
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-29 14:03:14
- date last changed
- 2026-06-29 14:03:14
@misc{9232056,
abstract = {{This thesis contributes to the understanding of sustainability-oriented technological innovation
(SOTI) by applying an innovation ecosystem perspective. The aim is to explore how interactions
between actors shape SOTI and how these interactions enable or constrain adoption in practice.
To address this purpose, a qualitative case study was conducted within the Swedish agri-food
innovation ecosystem, with particular attention to the integration of biotechnology-related
solutions in agricultural practice. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured
interviews with actors across the ecosystem, including primary producers, biotechnology firms,
innovation support actors, intermediaries, and institutional actors.
The findings suggest that SOTI is shaped not only by the characteristics of the technology itself,
but also by the interaction dynamics between ecosystem actors. Economic feasibility, trust and
legitimacy, regulatory conditions, compatibility with farm practices, sustainability expectations,
and market needs all influence whether innovation can move from development toward practical
adoption. The study further shows that primary producers play a central role in this process, as
they represent the point at which technological innovation must become usable, valuable, and
compatible with everyday operations. Overall, this thesis argues that the successful integration of
SOTI depends on the ecosystem’s ability to create alignment between technological possibilities,
economic realities, institutional conditions, and practical farm-level needs.}},
author = {{Coleman Söderlund, Caeley Schae and van de Vondel, Timothée Louis Victor}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Ecosystem Interactions and the Integration of Sustainability-Oriented Technological Innovation. An exploratory study of how interactions between actors shape and impact the adoption of sustainability-oriented technological innovation in an innovation ecosystem: a case study on the Swedish agri-food system}},
year = {{2026}},
}