Defining networks in entrepreneurial ecosystems: the openness of ecosystems

Prokop, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6394-6149 and Thompson, Piers 2023. Defining networks in entrepreneurial ecosystems: the openness of ecosystems. Small Business Economics 61 , pp. 517-538. 10.1007/s11187-022-00710-w

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Abstract

The paper draws on network theory to employ concepts of homophily and heterophily to investigate whether the presence of familiar, unfamiliar or a mix of actors in an entrepreneurial ecosystem is related to start-up rates. The empirical focus of this study is on 81 UK university entrepreneurial ecosystems and their outputs in terms of academic spinoff companies. The paper finds that university entrepreneurial ecosystems with access to actors of predominantly heterophilious character are associated with higher spinoff start-up rates. It is concluded that in stimulating the development of successful entrepreneurial ecosystems there is a clear need to focus on their openness to heterophilious actors, inclusive of other ecosystems. This is especially important in the context of network lock-in that may arise from dependence on homophilious ties.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	0921-898X
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 November 2022
Date of Acceptance:	16 November 2022
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2024 23:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/154293

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