(Sustainable) platforms ecosystems. Integrating the Green into the Blue

Sustainable innovation has become an increasingly important topic in recent years, as society faces emerging challenges related to sustainability. Rooting on a wide review of sustainable innovation and framing digital platform ecosystems as a way to create new markets, promote regional specialization, and provide long-term horizons for political action, the paper proposes a conceptual framework to highlight the pivotal role of the platform sponsor in guiding and controlling the development of sustainable innovation on the whole platform ecosystem. This involves setting clear goals, defining metrics, and establishing rules for participation. The platform sponsor also plays a critical role in ostering collaboration and co-creation among users, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and resources, and creating a culture of innovation and sustainability: in this, algorithms play a key role in enabling green and blue technology recombination, supporting sustainable decision-making. By integrating these technologies, digital platform ecosystems can support sustainable practices across a range of industries and reduce the environmental footprint of human activities.