Entr. Ecosystems & Economic Development

Course goals

Learning objectives

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Define and describe key theoretical frameworks and concepts related to entrepreneurial ecosystems and economic development.
• Illustrate the relevance of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence in explaining aggregate value creation through innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Apply relevant theoretical frameworks and ecosystem metrics to critically analyse specific national, regional or local cases.
• Analyse and differentiate between national, regional and local policy interventions and assess their relevance for entrepreneurship and economic development.
• Critically evaluate policy instruments for fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems, including their design, implementation, outputs and likely outcomes.
• Conduct a transparent, data-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem diagnosis using relevant EE indices, complementary indicators and, where appropriate, stakeholder or expert insights.
• Develop a client-ready policy output - either a policy report or, where professional participation allows, a co-created policy package, based on synthesized knowledge from the course.

Content

This course examines how regional and national entrepreneurial ecosystems shape productive entrepreneurship, innovation and societal value creation. It explores why entrepreneurship flourishes in some economies and institutional contexts and not in others, and how policy can improve ecosystem conditions. The course combines perspectives from economics, development economics, economic geography, entrepreneurial finance, business economics, sociology, political science and psychology. Key ecosystem conditions include formal institutions, culture, leadership, talent, knowledge, finance, networks, intermediaries, infrastructure and demand.

Students learn to apply the entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and empirical tools to diagnose ecosystem strengths and bottlenecks using contemporary ecosystem metrics, including the relevant EE Index, and complementary indicators. They work on real policy cases for external partners and critically examine entrepreneurship and innovation policies, including their design, implementation and likely effects.

The course is also offered to professionals. If sufficient professionals from policy, development agencies, ecosystem intermediaries or entrepreneurship practice sign up, the assessments may be adapted to promote joint work between students and professionals. Specifically, assignments will be adapted to the specific cases of the professionals. In this scenario, students remain responsible for evidence generation and final assessed outputs, while professionals contribute contextual knowledge, help refine and stress-test policy proposals, and support the translation of analysis into implementation-oriented advice. This increases the real-life relevance and applicability of the group assignment output, provides students with direct insights into career paths focused on entrepreneurial ecosystem development, and builds their professional networks. Professionals gain theoretical knowledge, ecosystem analyses tailored to their case, and targeted policy plans.

If insufficient professionals enrol, the course continues in its regular student-only format with guest experts, client interaction, a group policy assignment and a final presentation, while maintaining the same learning objectives and assessment structure.

Format

This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyse entrepreneurial ecosystems and the role of policy in stimulating sustainable economic development. The learning process includes:

• theory and methods sessions on entrepreneurial ecosystem frameworks, ecosystem metrics and policy evaluation;
• pre-class reading and in-class literature discussions;
• tutorials focused on data analysis, EE indices, case development and feedback;
• interaction with external clients, guest experts and, where applicable, professional participants;
• active participation in a group assignment involving data-driven analysis of a specific region, country or policy challenge, including feedback from instructors, peers and external stakeholders;
• presentation of findings to external stakeholders; and
• a written mid-term exam focusing on case-based analysis and knowledge questions.

The professional-integration and policy-hackathon elements are modular. When sufficient professional participation and logistical conditions are in place, the group assignment may culminate in a staged policy co-creation process and policy hackathon. Otherwise, the assignment follows the regular format described in the course manual, with guest expert sessions, client feedback, a client-ready policy report and presentation.

Success in this course requires diligent preparation, consistent attendance and active class participation. Moreover, given the exceptional case-based and client-oriented format, professionalism and flexibility is also needed. Data science skills offer a significant advantage.

Assessment method

• Written group assignment analysing entrepreneurial ecosystems, including client consultations, expert/professional engagement where applicable, and presentation of a client-ready policy output: 65%
• Mid-term exam consisting of case-based analysis and multiple-choice questions: 35%

In case online access is required for this course and you are unable (or do not want) to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not re-usable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.