Abstract: Under the uncertain environment, excellent groups try to achieve sustainable development through innovation ecology optimization and upgrading. However, faced with the risks that may be brought by the dynamic environment, we have not yet found an effective solution to how to build a matching innovation ecology and maintain the dynamic balance of innovation ecology. This paper conducted an exploratory singlecase study on the innovation ecology evolution of parent company as designers of the innovation ecosystem, and refined the construction process and evolution logic model of the innovation ecosystem at different development stages. Our findings revealed that: The construction and evolution of the groups′ innovation ecosystem is influenced by the relationship tension caused by changes in the institutional environment and resource endowment. At different development stages, parent company constructs a matching innovation ecosystem by adopting various specific mechanisms to cope with the relationship tension between the parent company and its subsidiaries, and between the parent company and other subjects. Ecological niche change is the evolutionary logic of the group innovation ecosystem. At different stages, the parent company respectively promotes the continuous upgrading of the innovation ecosystem through the evolutionary logic of niche translation, niche translation and shift, and niche shift. The conclusions of the study will provide a reference for group companies to think about the development path based on the construction of the innovation ecosystem and enhance the resilience of the organizational structure to cope with uncertain environment.

Key words: innovation ecology, relationship tension, ecological niche change, case study