Master
2026/2027
Ecosystems of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ID 1166961
Type:
Elective course (Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy)
Delivered by:
Department of Educational Programmes
When:
2 year, 2 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
32
Course Syllabus
Abstract
economic systems by introducing new products and services, technologies, and business models. Yet, entrepreneurs and firms depend on complementary resources and on a diversity of actors and institutions that shape their respective business environments. In this respect, Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation can be understood as contexts, often territorially embedded, in which multiple elements influence individuals’ propensity and capabilities to engage in entrepreneurial and innovative activity. Accordingly, firms' competitive advantages increasingly depend on factors beyond their organizational boundaries, including shared resources, networks, knowledge spillovers, local endowments, and institutional and policy support.
These dynamics have shifted analytical focus from individual entrepreneurs and firms to the contextual conditions in which they are embedded. The ecosystem perspective builds on earlier literature on industrial districts, innovative milieus, and regional innovation systems, while emphasizing the interdependencies among actors, resources, institutions, and framework conditions that shape entrepreneurial and innovative activity.
Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation involve interactions among firms, governments, universities, research institutes, financial actors, incumbent organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures. Beyond these actors, ecosystem dynamics are also shaped by institutional conditions, culture, trust, and other contextual characteristics.
Interactions and knowledge flows among actors and framework conditions constitute a central feature of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Knowledge flows and spillovers create opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and value co-creation. Because many of these interactions display a strong spatial dimension, cities and regions represent particularly relevant levels of analysis.
These processes also highlight the importance of historical trajectories and evolutionary dynamics in shaping the configuration of key actors and the strength of the linkages among them. Ecosystem governance, for instance, co-evolves with the ecosystem itself: the breadth and depth of interactions, as well as their coordination mechanisms, can simultaneously influence and result from ecosystem dynamics. These patterns are path dependent and, although ecosystem development is largely driven by bottom-up processes, top-down coordination can also play an important facilitating role.
This course examines Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from both conceptual and applied perspectives. In-class discussions address ecosystem components and interactions, the benefits and challenges associated with collaboration among different actors, and the configuration of networks and linkages. Particular attention is also given to the role of innovation habitats, including universities, technology parks, and incubators.
Learning Objectives
- Governance and configurations of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Network models of innovative entrepreneurship
- Evolutionary processes of regional development
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Ability to analyze ecosystems of entrepreneurship and innovation
- Skills for evaluating and accessing assets in ecosystems
- An understanding of innovation determinants
- Developing innovation habitats
Course Contents
- Conceptual Foundations of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: definitions, key concepts
- Ecosystem configurations
- Universities and the Dynamics of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Evolutionary trends of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Guided analyses of Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Applied Approaches to Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Case analysis I
- Applied Approaches to Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Case analysis II
- Applied Approaches to Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Case analysis III and Wrap-up
Assessment Elements
- Case Analysis
- Written exam
- In-class activity 1
- In-class activity 2
- In-class activity 3
- In-class activity 4
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.125 * In-class activity 4 + 0.25 * Case Analysis + 0.125 * In-class activity 2 + 0.125 * In-class activity 3 + 0.125 * In-class activity 1 + 0.25 * Written exam
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Stam, E., & van de Ven, A. (2019). Entrepreneurial ecosystem elements. Small Business Economics ; ISSN 0921-898X 1573-0913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00270-6
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Moller, K., Nenonen, S., & Storbacka, K. (2020, October). Networks, ecosystems, fields, market systems? Making sense of the business environment. Industrial Marketing Management, 90, 380-399