Aligning Regional Innovation Ecosystems: The MEAM-3LAM Model and CAM Actor Mapping

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated framework for analyzing and developing regional innovation ecosystems through the combination of three complementary models: the METRIC Ecosystem Actor Model (MEAM v2), the Three-Layer Alignment Model (3LAM), and the Conceptual Actor Mapping (CAM) methodology. MEAM v2 provides a comprehensive taxonomy of innovation ecosystem actors organized by function (Innovation Development, Innovation Support, and Structural Support) and categorized into ten distinct actor types. The 3LAM model adds vertical dimension by distinguishing between Public Innovation Ecosystems (PIE), Business Innovation Ecosystems (BIE), and Innovation Management Systems (IMS). CAM operationalizes these frameworks through a four-step diagnostic process. The integration of these three models offers practitioners and policymakers a robust toolkit for ecosystem assessment, gap identification, and strategic intervention design. Based on extensive literature review and empirical testing with 1,682 firms across Swedish regions, this framework provides actionable insights for enhancing innovation ecosystem performance through improved actor alignment and orchestration.