Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Place-Based Transformations and Transitions

This book features latest research insights into the study of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The focus is on understanding its influence on the development of socially and physically defined ‘places’, and how these factors are related with each other. The book argues that regardless of how the concept of a ‘place’ is defined, be it cities, regions, nations or otherwise, the impact of new technologies will influence much of our business, social, and economic landscapes. Evidently, there is an increasing pressure on ‘places’ to embrace new opportunities for strategic development and confront complacency. The solution may very well be in creating and sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystems where entrepreneurial action thrives and innovation drives the new economy.

Allan O’Connor is a Senior Lecturer at the Entrepreneurship, Commercialization and Innovation Center (ECIC) at the University of Adelaide. In 2014/15 he led the development of the Australian Cluster Observatory and is currently leading the development of the Strategic Innovation of Place research group.

Erik Stam is a Full Professor at the Utrecht University School of Economics, where he holds the chair of Strategy, Organization & Entrepreneurship. He has been the co-founder and Academic Director of the Utrecht Center for Entrepreneurship. He is editor of Small Business Economics: An Entrepreneurship Journal.

Fiona Sussan is Senior University Research Chair of School of Advanced Studies, University of Phoenix. She is the founder of the Center for Global Business Research. Her research investigates the impact of digitization and her consulting work focuses on the digital economy.

David Audretsch is a distinguished professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and also serves as director of the SPEA Overseas Education Program, Ameritech Chair of Economic Development, and director of the Institute for Development Strategies. He is co-founder and co-Editor-in-Chief of Small Business Economics: An Entrepreneurship Journal and also works as a consultant to the United Nations, the World Bank, the OECD, the EU Commission, and U.S. Department of State.