Knowledge Development and Interactions in Innovation Ecosystems
How do entrepreneurs develop the knowledge needed to solve problems, create innovations, and build companies? And what happens when that knowledge is distributed across different people and organizations, both inside and outside the company?
In her doctoral thesis, Madeleine Englund explores how knowledge is developed within knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship (KIE). The findings show how innovation emerges through problem-solving processes in which different types of knowledge are combined. At the same time, solving one problem often generates new questions and knowledge needs. As a result, both the knowledge required and the people and organizations that become important to interact with evolve throughout the development process.
The thesis is based on Swedish horsetech companies that develop technological innovations for the equine sector. In this context, knowledge of horses and equestrian sports must be combined with technological and commercial expertise. The study demonstrates how entrepreneurs develop these knowledge combinations both within their companies and through interactions with external actors. This requires them to navigate different knowledge environments and build relationships both within the equine sector and beyond it. The thesis also highlights how events can serve as meeting places where individuals and organizations with diverse knowledge and experiences can connect, exchange insights, and develop relationships.
Overall, the thesis shows how knowledge development, problem-solving, and ecosystem interactions are closely intertwined in the innovation process. Innovation is therefore not only about having access to the right knowledge, but also about the ability to combine different forms of knowledge and create the interactions through which new knowledge can emerge.
Link: Riding on Innovation: Knowledge development and ecosystem interactions in horsetech entrepreneurship
Madeleine Englund defended her doctoral thesis on a public defence on 21 October 2026, at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University og Gothenburg.