Unpacking innovation ecosystem resilience: an analysis in the insurance industry

This study examines the resilience of the innovation ecosystem within Iran’s insurance industry. By employing a metaphor-informed approach, the research develops an analytical framework tailored to the institutional context and specific dynamics of the insurance sector. The methodology unfolds in two stages. First, a systematic review of ecological literature is conducted to extract relevant resilience indicators. In the second stage, these indicators are adapted and empirically validated through a case study of Iran’s insurance ecosystem. Findings reveal that resilience in the insurance innovation ecosystem is multidimensional, structured around five core dimensions: Configuration, Capability, Capacity, Condition, and Context (the 5C Framework). Key barriers to resilience include limited actor diversity, institutional opacity, and rigid regulatory structures. Given the strategic position of the insurance industry in enhancing investment security and enabling cross-sectoral innovation, this study offers targeted policy recommendations to improve institutional flexibility, promote collaborative governance, and reform regulatory frameworks.