Abstract
Over the past two decades, various policies have been implemented on an international and national level to support regional competitiveness, in which Universities are often called on to play a crucial role. Taking into account their contribution to the combined performance of education, the advanced research and the networking of knowledge, Universities are recognized as knowledge-intensive institutions and environments that foster human capital development, innovation and entrepreneurship. According to the current practice, Universities include in their mission not only a generalized transfer of know-how, but also the promotion of business thinking and entrepreneurial culture, the establishment of institutions, actions as well as the creation of venture capital, thus contributing further to the promotion of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. By examining the entrepreneurship development in teaching and learning through the various actions of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Units of the Greek Universities between 2011 and 2015, the present article aims at assessing the contribution of the Greek Universities to the fostering of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems, making a comparative evaluation of them and strengthening the role of the Greek Universities in regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. Firstly, the theoretical approaches of regional entrepreneurial ecosystems as well as the role of Universities in Regional Development are examined and analyzed. Secondly, it is attempted to record the role of the Greek Universities through the collection and processing of innovation information and actions, utilizing, as a case study, the structures of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Units. Thirdly, taking into account the results of the research, proposals for the national and regional policy are made.
Highlights
Some policies were implemented in EU (European Union) regions which aimed at improving regional competitiveness and strengthening economic growth and social stability by means of supporting businesses in general which engage within a region (Fischer and Nijkamp 1988; Sternberg 2012)
Empirical researches have revealed that business activities in general cannot contribute to regional development; on the contrary, it is rather a small group of entrepreneurs that are important for economic development (Stam 2015)
In the beginning of 19th Century, emphasized the role of the entrepreneur as a prime cause of economic development, defining him as an agent who unites all means of production and who finds the value of the product, the re-establishment of the entire capital it employs, the value of the wages, the interest and rent paid, as well as the profits belonging to himself (Ierapetritis and Lagos 2012)
Summary
Some policies were implemented in EU (European Union) regions which aimed at improving regional competitiveness and strengthening economic growth and social stability by means of supporting businesses in general which engage within a region (Fischer and Nijkamp 1988; Sternberg 2012). Empirical researches have revealed that business activities in general cannot contribute to regional development; on the contrary, it is rather a small group of entrepreneurs that are important for economic development (Stam 2015). These are entrepreneurs looking for chances to make profit, willing to take risk by trying innovative products and services and aiming to add to them the maximum possible value. In the beginning of 19th Century, emphasized the role of the entrepreneur as a prime cause of economic development, defining him as an agent who unites all means of production and who finds the value of the product, the re-establishment of the entire capital it employs, the value of the wages, the interest and rent paid, as well as the profits belonging to himself (Ierapetritis and Lagos 2012).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call