The role of entrepreneurial ecosystems in technological and social challenges

Abstract

Although there is a common consensus about what an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) is, the question of how EE dynamics interact with technology and social change remains unclear. In this introductory article to our Special Issue on the role of EE in technological and social challenges, we systematically review the corpus of literature in this field of research. Leveraging bibliometric techniques, we present a review of the most influential papers and their key research topics, synthesized across four thematic groups: (i) university‐based EE, (ii) entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems, (iii) dynamic EE models, and (iv) digital entrepreneurship ecosystems. Within this thematic frame, a synopsis of the papers presented within the special issue is provided, highlighting their research theme addressed, theoretical grounding, and methods leveraged. We conclude this article by identifying potential future research questions that may be advantageous trajectories for the EE research community to address when advancing the field in the coming years.

Unlocking the Code to Continuous Innovation: A Study of Key Determinants for Serial Innovators

“…Innovation thrives in an environment that encourages knowledge exchange, collaboration, and interdisciplinary research (Hou et al 2019). Collaboration between academia, industry, and government is vital for fostering innovation (Ferreira et al 2023). Effective knowledge transfer mechanisms, such as research partnerships, technology transfer offices, and incubators, enable the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications (Castañer and Oliveira 2020).…”

Entrepreneurial ecosystems and clusters: How can economic geographers advance debates for regional development?

“…Current understandings of the EE concept, then, amount to a one-size-fits-all general theory of EEs, driven by broad guidelines, that does not properly consider context and variation along the lines of actor roles or sectoral activity. More research is needed to identify ways in which EEs may differ (see, for example, Ferreira et al, 2023) and exploring their connections with clusters. By questioning these distinctions between EEs and clusters we have shown that the EE concept has considerable conceptual ambiguity within its internal definitions but also in its demarcations with other concepts, reifying its position as a chaotic concept.…”

Relational models and entrepreneurship ecosystems

“…Stanford, Harvard) help populate the market with strong human capital, and as a result these regions also attract the interest of both individual and institutional investors with the capital necessary for venturing. An abundance of entrepreneurs ensures healthy competition, while early technology adopters provide a reliable customer base eager for innovation (cf., Bakry et al, 2022;Ferreira et al, 2023). The synergistic effect of these market interactions in places like Silicon Valley and Boston underscores their efficacy as thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems.…”

“…An abundance of entrepreneurs ensures healthy competition, while early technology adopters provide a reliable customer base eager for innovation (cf., Bakry et al. , 2022; Ferreira et al. , 2023).…”