Coopetition in business Ecosystems: The key role of absorptive capacity and supply chain agility

•In business ecosystems, coopetition alone does not directly foster firm performance.•Coopetition relates to higher levels of a firm’s absorptive capacity.•Absorptive capacity enhances supply chain agility in coopetitive relationships.•Absorptive capacity leads to higher firm performance in coopetitive relationships.•Coopetition fosters performance via absorptive capacity and supply chain agility.