COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS FOR DEFENSE SPACE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Abstract

Defense-space capability depends on coordinating fragmented actors, knowledge, resources, and lifecycle processes across complex and security-sensitive technological environments. This study examines how collaborative innovation ecosystems enable the development, transfer, diffusion, operational adoption, and sustainment of defense-space technologies in support of sovereign capability. An integrative literature review synthesizes 63 peer-reviewed Scopus-indexed studies published between 2019 and 2025 across innovation ecosystems, Helix models, defense industry, aerospace engineering, technology transfer, and strategic autonomy. Quality appraisal classified 41 studies as high quality and 22 as moderate quality. The thematic synthesis identifies five interrelated mechanisms: ecosystem governance and orchestration; functional actor configuration; knowledge, resource, and absorptive-capacity integration; technology development and lifecycle capability; and defense-industrial transformation through transfer, diffusion, and self-reliance. Findings show that actor presence alone is insufficient; collaboration creates capability when it aligns priorities, institutionalizes roles, integrates knowledge and resources, and connects systems engineering with operational adoption and lifecycle learning. The study proposes an eight-layer framework culminating in sovereign defense-space capability and reconceptualizes self-reliance as progressive operational, maintenance, integration, production, innovation, and strategic autonomy rather than technological autarky.