Work

Exnovation and digital open innovation: A capability pathway from digital dependency to digital sovereignty

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Digital transformation in emerging economies increasingly unfolds under conditions of dependence on externally controlled platforms, infrastructures, standards, and data ecosystems. Although digital sovereignty has become a prominent policy objective, the institutional processes through which public organizations move from digital dependency toward greater governance autonomy remain insufficiently theorized. To address this gap, this study develops a conceptual framework through a concept-driven hermeneutic narrative review to explain how digital open innovation can support the development of digital sovereignty. The framework conceptualizes digital sovereignty as an institutional governance capability that emerges through a sequential process rather than as a static policy objective. Specifically, digital open innovation provides access to external knowledge, institutional learning capacity converts that knowledge into organizational capability, and knowledge localization adapts those capabilities to domestic legal, administrative, and societal contexts. Digital sovereignty is achieved when these localized capabilities enable governments to govern digital systems in accordance with national priorities. The framework also identifies exnovation as a boundary condition that strengthens this pathway by facilitating the retirement of obsolete routines, legacy systems, and dependency-producing arrangements. The study presents a mechanism-based explanation of how public organizations can move from digital dependency toward digital sovereignty through learning, localization, and institutional renewal. The proposed framework contributes to the literature on digital governance and open innovation by integrating previously fragmented perspectives and provides a foundation for future empirical research and policy development in emerging economies.

Source: Journal of Open Innovation Technology Market and Complexity

DOI: 10.1016/j.joitmc.2026.100863

Authors: Areeba Abid, Balqees Almessabi, Ajmal Waheed, Noor Ul Hadi

Institutions: National Defence University, Zayed University, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University

Language: English

Topic: E-Government and Public Services

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,250