The paradoxes of collaborative innovation for sustainability: a systematic review and research agenda

Purpose The literature on collaborative innovation for sustainability grand challenges is fragmented. This paper addresses this gap by providing a systematic, integrated, and critical review of the contemporary field. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The study synthesizes and critically analyzes 132 empirical papers (2021–2025) to map the field's forms, mechanisms, drivers, barriers, outcomes, methods, and theoretical underpinnings. Findings The synthesis reveals a shift toward digitally orchestrated ecosystems. Specifically, the study identifies three interdependent paradoxes driven by the complexity of sustainability: a governance paradox that balances algorithmic control with relational trust, a scale-and-impact paradox that reconciles local depth with systemic reach, and a participation paradox that balances inclusive legitimacy with efficiency. Research limitations/implications The review proposes a forward-looking research agenda to address the lack of longitudinal designs and the micro-macro divide. Practical implications The articulation of the three paradoxes offers actionable insights for practice and policy. It provides a realistic framework that helps leaders move beyond attempts to eliminate tensions and instead adopt ambidextrous strategies to manage the competing demands of control, participation, and scale. Originality/value This review provides a novel critical analysis rather than a descriptive inventory. The core theoretical contribution of this study lies in reconceptualizing the fragmented challenges of sustainability transitions as not isolated dilemmas. Instead, they are understood as three interdependent and persistent paradoxes: governance, scale, and participation. Collectively, these paradoxes form a self-reinforcing engine of tension that defines contemporary digitally orchestrated ecosystems.