Abstract
Purpose: In recent years, China started to embrace open source software (OSS) and witnessed rapid growth in its open source ecosystem. What is unique about the open source ecosystem in China? What does the future hold for this flourishing Chinese open source ecosystem in its globalization process? This article examines the past development of open source ecosystem in China, and its future co-evolution with the global open source ecosystem. Method: Multiple case studies Findings: This study finds that higher government influence is helpful for domestic OSS ecosystem growth, but may undermine the integration into global OSS ecosystem. Practical resolutions are proposed to address this challenge. This article contributes to both the technology innovation management literature and the international business literature by being among the first to examine the opportunities and challenges facing the OSS ecosystem in China, in its endeavor to globalize and co-evolve with the global OSS ecosystem.