Agents in the Alps: The Functions and Impacts of Orchestrator Platforms in the Mountains

This article integrates diverse strands of theory and empirical research to combine views on economic complexity and entrepreneurial ecosystems in the context of mountain regions, focusing on the role of orchestrator platforms in shaping innovation and growth. Mountains are often marginal, dispersed, and loosely integrated areas that suffer from scarce opportunities for resource combination and interaction at the basis of the innovative process. The research relies on the case study of the European Alps, combining multiple sources of data—surveys, interviews, and ethnographic studies—to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the mountain ecosystems. Orchestrator platforms emerged as the central actors in the innovative network that overcomes the difficulties and constraints of the mountains. The article provides a comprehensive perspective on how economic complexity can drive development in mountain regions, offering both theoretical and practical contributions to the broader discourse on entrepreneurship and regional growth.