The Dynamics and Resilience of Innovation Networks in a Disruptive World
A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Complex Systems and Cybernetics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1519
Editor
Interests: innovation networks; gender diversity in innovation; gender and technology; artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs); knowledge graphs; responsible and sustainable innovation; research funding and policy impact; network analysis and social network analysis (SNA)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Innovation networks are the foundation of technological progress, competitiveness, and resilience in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world. Yet, the last decade has shown that global disruptions (ranging from pandemics and geopolitical instability to supply chain shocks and rapid digital transformation) can profoundly alter the structure and dynamics of these networks. Understanding how innovation systems adapt, reorganize, and sustain collaboration amid disruption has become central to both research and policy.
This Special Issue of Systems focuses on the dynamics and resilience of innovation networks in the face of disruption. We invite studies that apply systems thinking, social network analysis, and dynamic modeling to examine how knowledge flows, partnerships, and innovation capabilities evolve under changing conditions. Contributions may include theoretical frameworks, empirical analyses, computational models, or case studies that explore adaptation mechanisms, co-evolutionary processes, and resilience strategies within innovation ecosystems.
We particularly encourage submissions that integrate technological, organizational, and policy perspectives to uncover how systemic interdependencies shape network resilience. Research that leverages data analytics, machine learning, or simulation to capture network evolution and recovery patterns is also welcome. By connecting systems theory with innovation studies, this Special Issue aims to build a comprehensive understanding of how innovation networks can endure and thrive in a disruptive world.
This Special Issue particularly welcomes submissions addressing, among others:
- Dynamic modeling of innovation networks and adaptive collaboration structures;
- Resilience mechanisms in inter-firm and inter-institutional relationships;
- Network-based analysis of technological change and knowledge diffusion;
- The role of digital transformation, AI, and data-driven ecosystems in shaping innovation systems;
- Governance, policy, and institutional factors influencing network adaptability;
- Empirical and computational approaches to measuring disruption and recovery in innovation systems;
- Comparative studies of regional and global innovation ecosystems.
This Special Issue aligns with the scope of Systems by embracing systems thinking and complex systems methodologies to explore interdependencies, emergent patterns, and adaptive capacities in innovation networks. The goal is to foster theoretical, empirical, and practical insights that advance both the science and management of innovation systems.
Dr. Leila Tahmooresnejad
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- innovation networks
- network resilience
- disruption
- systems thinking
- digital transformation
- complex adaptive systems
- social network analysis
- dynamic modeling
- technological change
- policy and governance
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