Title: Can universities play an active role in fostering entrepreneurship in emerging ecosystems? A case study of the University of São Paulo

Authors: Artur Tavares Vilas Boas Ribeiro; Eduardo De Senzi Zancul; Justin Hugo Axel-Berg; Guilherme Ary Plonski

Addresses: Cidade Universitária, 908-FEA, 1-Sala B 114, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil; Faculdade de Economia e Administração, Núcleo de Política e Gestão Tecnológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil ' Departamento de Engenharia de Produção, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil ' Faculdade de Economia e Administração, Núcleo de Política e Gestão Tecnológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil ' Faculdade de Economia e Administração, Núcleo de Política e Gestão Tecnológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: The present study aims to identify patterns and roles that can be played by research universities in emerging entrepreneurship ecosystems. Its methodology is based on a case study of the University of São Paulo, analysing three startups born inside the university and the characteristics of its development processes. As a conclusion, we identify strategies to deal with bottlenecks and enhancers of an emerging entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as patterns on how a university can stimulate entrepreneurship in a context of regional constraints - such as: 1) building interfaces between academic environments; 2) applying processes such as customer development using university capabilities; 3) empowering grassroots movements for entrepreneurship.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship ecosystems; entrepreneurial universities; startups; venture creation; university; third mission; technology development; new business; economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2018.090493

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2018 Vol.8 No.1, pp.1 - 22

Received: 06 Jan 2017
Accepted: 15 May 2017
Published online: 19 Mar 2018 *