The role of open innovation in developing an entrepreneurial support ecosystem

Abstract

In this study, we use the open innovation paradigm to analyze the development of an entrepreneurial support ecosystem. We argue that business accelerators play a critical role within an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our analysis draws on qualitative data from a business accelerator in such a context. We suggest that, in environments that have underdeveloped entrepreneurial support ecosystems, public policy should endorse the open innovation activities of key actors in entrepreneurial ecosystems. By harnessing open innovation, an accelerator forges a broader network of relationships with actors outside of the system, which in turn increases the capacity within the system and embeds it within a global innovation system.