University / Organisation : Paris Dauphine

Paper or project ? paper

Title : The Economic of Data-Sharing Ecosystems: An Empirical Investigation Through the Lens of Platform and Ecosystem Theories

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Abstract : Data-Sharing Ecosystems (DSEs) are collaborative networks in which heterogeneous actors, firms, public bodies, and technology providers, pool and reuse data to co-create value that no participant could generate alone. Yet many initiatives stall because the economic logic for sustaining such cooperation remains unclear. Based on 24 interviews spanning 9 sectors, this study builds an integrative framework centred on three themes: (1) ecosystem dynamics, detailing how local network effects and economies of scope drive growth; (2) use-case development, showing that value materialises through a portfolio of progressively ambitious projects; and (3) orchestration, explaining how governance mechanisms mitigate security risks and align interest. By combining together platform theory and ecosystem theory we demonstrate that DSE sustainability depends on a hybrid governance logic: market-like mechanisms must be coupled with collaborative rules that align incentives, share costs and distribute benefits fairly over time. This synthesis extends platform economics beyond dyadic exchanges and enriches ecosystem theory with concrete economic levers, offering a more complete explanation of why some data collaborations scale while others falter.