SMEs participation in Data Ecosystems: a Systematic Literature Review

Research on data ecosystems is becoming an emerging field of study. Defined as socio-technical networks in which actors collaborate to find, archive, or reuse data to create value, data ecosystems are particularly beneficial for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as they can access and share data and resources, while establishing collaborative activities. However, despite the importance of data ecosystems at institutional (i.e., European) levels, the knowledge about SMEs participation in such ecosystems is currently lacking. Therefore, adopting a socio-technical perspective, this study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) to understand the current state of art related to SMEs participation in data ecosystems. Using the PRISMA flowchart, more than 2,200 articles from various disciplines are screened, and 46 are retained eligible for review.  The results show that SMEs and data ecosystems influence each other in a sort of co-evolutionary process. On the one hand, SMEs change their structures and outcomes (i.e., by integrating new technologies, skilled workforce, and improving their processes) when joining into data ecosystems. On the other hand, the entry of new actors (i.e., SMEs) causes data ecosystems to evolve, through the refinement of initial scopes and roadmaps, the emergence of power dynamics, and the formation of sub-communities. Furthermore, SMEs face challenges and incentives that either encourage or hinder their participation in data ecosystems. This article makes important contributions to our current understanding of data ecosystems and organizations that participate in them. Results are useful for public bodies, SME managers and academics, as they identify important future research paths.