Exploring innovation ecosystems across science, technology, and business: A case of 3D printing in China

The concept of the innovation ecosystem is receiving increasing attention worldwide. Governments and industrialists are keen to foster innovation ecosystems to systematically cultivate favourable environments and encourage local innovators to create knowledge and capture business value. In particular, innovation ecosystems require specific attention when faced with fast-developing emerging industries that closely link science, technology, and business. This study, therefore, develops a framework to investigate the innovation capacities of a multi-layered innovation ecosystem that involves science, technology, and business sub-ecosystems, when considering two core attributes of the innovation ecosystem: the integrated value chain and the interactive network. Furthermore, this framework analyses the interplays across science, technology, and business layers; on that basis, a four-quadrant diagram can be plotted to denote innovation pathways. China's 3D printing ecosystem was selected as a case study. This study found that China's 3D printing ecosystem performs well in science and technology, and may have new development pathways that originate from basic research and technology rather than from duplicating technologies and low-cost production. This study contributes to the literature on innovation ecosystems and has implications for industrialists, researchers, and policymakers.