A Systems Approach to Innovation Ecosystem Management: System Model Validation via an Ecosystem Case Study

There is an extensive body of knowledge related to open innovation and university–industry collaboration (UIC) emphasizing the benefits and challenges of such partnerships. This study examines the relevance of the CESM (Composition, Environment, Structure, Mechanisms) systemism model as a management tool in a case study of a center for research-based innovation. The research investigates how governance structures, trust-building mechanisms, resource allocation, and evolving partner roles interact over time to shape collaboration quality and innovation capability. The results show that the CESM system model provides a coherent framework for diagnosing performance-shaping factors, identifying systemic interdependencies, and guiding targeted managerial interventions. The findings highlight the central role of trust and innovation capability as emergent properties of the interaction between structural, relational, and organizational elements. The study concludes that the CESM model has the potential to offer both analytical and practical value by providing insight and assistance in managing innovation ecosystems.