Abstract
This thesis examines how stakeholders collaborate to enhance energy efficiency in restricted
ecosystems in response to growing energy limitations and the demand for sustainability
imperatives. The study is anchored on the research project " Industrivekst i lokale
energisamfunn, " by the University of Inland, Norway/CREDS-Center for research on
digitalization and sustainability. The project aims to tackle energy shortages in the
Kongsvinger region by uncovering new technological, regulatory, and collaborative models
that foster industrial growth through more intelligent and flexible energy usage. Energy access
remains a significant barrier to regional development, especially for manufacturing and
logistics. However, joint initiatives among neighbouring businesses and energy entities offer a
promising route to sustainable industrial transformation.
Utilizing ecosystem, collaboration, and business model theories, this study adopts a
qualitative approach to explore the socio-organizational dynamics affecting collaborative
behavior in a restricted ecosystem. The results reveal a significant readiness among
stakeholders to engage in collective energy initiatives, provided they do not negatively impact
their bottom line. However, a key finding is that there are significant indicators that effective
collaboration relies not just on common goals, but also on the existence of adept
intermediaries 7Sterke, Klosser Innovasjon and CREDS. The findings indicate that these
intermediaries are crucial as they act as orchestrators, knowledge brokers, and facilitators of
workshops that foster trust, learning, and strategic coherence. While environmental factors
matter, the primary motivator for collaboration is cost efficiency, highlighting the necessity
for business models that harmonize economic incentives with broader sustainability
objectives. The findings indicate that although no clear models developed, sharing knowledge
promoted collaborative awareness and the initial creation of value.
This research contributes to the expanding understanding of energy collaboration in restricted
ecosystems by emphasizing the structural, institutional, and organizational elements that
influence stakeholder interactions. It highlights the crucial importance of intermediaries in
fostering engagement and aligning diverse interests to achieve common goals of value.
Future research should investigate sustainable business models that ensure fair and equitable
value distribution among stakeholders in this restricted ecosystem, as indicated by the
stakeholders interviewed. Furthermore, additional investigation is needed into the absence of
an ecosystem mindset among these industrial stakeholders, particularly within business-to-
business contexts. Understanding the cognitive, cultural, and organizational barriers to
ecosystem thinking will be crucial for realizing the full potential of collaborative energy
systems in industrial regions under this pressure.