Grand societal challenges, such as climate change and social inequality, require innovation efforts that transcend single-firm approaches. We examine how early-stage circular innovation organized within ecosystems in the Dutch construction sector, an industry marked by high resource consumption and significant waste, can create economic, environmental, and social value collectively. Drawing on fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 38 projects, we identify multiple, equifinal configurations of innovation ecosystems in which different combinations of technology characteristics, stakeholder diversity, governance modes, and regulatory frameworks align to create multidimensional value. Our findings are twofold. First, we reinforce a configurational perspective of innovation ecosystems, whereby no single “best-practice” blueprint applies. Second, we propose multidimensional value creation as an effective framework to assess the outcomes of innovation ecosystems aimed at addressing grand challenges. These insights extend innovation ecosystem scholarship and demonstrate that circularity objectives are best served by tailored, systemic orchestration rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. We conclude by suggesting that managers and policymakers need to cultivate ecosystem-wide capabilities, match governance strategies to project maturity, and offer focused support for vulnerable ventures. Such targeted measures increase the likelihood that early-stage circular innovations will create lasting multidimensional value, contributing meaningfully to addressing grand societal challenges.
