The article explores the conceptual foundations of the development of a smart economy as a multidimensional transformational environment in which the evolution of company business models takes place. The aim of the study is to systematize the basic principles of the smart economy, analyze institutional and ecosystem changes, and develop a model of the institutional-ecosystem architecture of the smart economy that incorporates current trends in the changing role of companies in the knowledge and data economy. The article is intended for scholars, analysts, and managers who study the transformation of economic activity under sustainable development conditions in a digital environment. The methodological foundation of the study is based on the principles of evolutionary economics, institutional analysis, the Quadruple Helix conception, and logical-structural modeling of transformational processes in the business environment. The study uses a comparative analysis of the digital and smart economy, the method of generalizing empirical cases, and systemic synthesis. Based on the research results, an author’s perspective of the smart economy as a system-forming environment for a new type of business has been developed. The basic principles of functioning have been identified (integrativity, cognition, sustainable development, open innovation, ecosystem interaction, etc.), the transformation of the enterprise’s role in the context of smartization, and three strategic vectors of transformation have been proposed (institutional, ecosystem, and value-oriented). An institutional-ecosystem model of the smart economy has been developed. Further research in this field should focus on developing a methodology for assessing the level of enterprise smartization, determining their digital and institutional maturity, and forming transformation scenarios depending on institutional conditions. The development of a smartization index for sectoral and regional comparisons is relevant. The practical value lies in creating a theoretical foundation for strategic planning of enterprise transformation in Ukraine, considering the technological base, digital culture, and institutional context. The findings can be applied in strategic planning and process design within business organizations, in shaping the regulatory environment, and in implementing digital platforms for collaboration among participants in the digital ecosystem. The social impact of the research is reflected in promoting digital inclusion, sustainable development, and strengthening the role of citizens and communities in shaping new economic models. The originality of the study lies in combining institutional and ecosystem approaches to analyzing the smart economy, as well as in identifying multi-level vectors for enterprise transformation. The article presents new ideas based on an evolutionary approach to understanding the economy of the future and adapting business to the challenges of a smart environment.
Gennady V. Osokin (Wed,) studied this question.