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Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an emerging field of research

Author

Listed:
  • Christine Volkmann

    (University of Wuppertal)

  • Klaus Fichter

    (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg)

  • Magnus Klofsten

    (Linköping University)

  • David B. Audretsch

    (Indiana University Bloomington)

Abstract

While the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems is now a prominent topic and an important stream in entrepreneurship research, the question of how ecosystems can specifically promote sustainable entrepreneurship and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations is a neglected issue. With the papers in this special issue, we address this research gap, serving as a catalyst sparking more research at the nexus of contextualization of entrepreneurship and sustainability. This research has, since the 1990s, developed in three waves; the explicit linkage to SDGs and the investigation of impacts of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems in achieving societal and environmental goals might be considered as the “fourth wave.” We first introduce relevant research streams and concepts for investigating sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. Then, we explain why this special issue and its articles represent a fourth wave in entrepreneurial research (“sustainability”). Thereafter, we provide an overview of the papers of this special issue and then end with a brief consideration of future research demands.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Volkmann & Klaus Fichter & Magnus Klofsten & David B. Audretsch, 2021. "Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an emerging field of research," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1047-1055, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:56:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00253-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00253-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Asuamah Yeboah, Samuel, 2023. "Unlocking Sustainable Futures: How FDI-Driven Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Power the SDGs," MPRA Paper 118519, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 03 Sep 2023.
    2. Bertello, Alberto & Battisti, Enrico & De Bernardi, Paola & Bresciani, Stefano, 2022. "An integrative framework of knowledge-intensive and sustainable entrepreneurship in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 683-693.
    3. Marcelo Royo-Vela & Jonathan Cuevas Lizama, 2022. "Creating Shared Value: Exploration in an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Allison L. Ricket & G. Jason Jolley & Faith Beale Knutsen & Sarah C. Davis, 2023. "Rural Sustainable Prosperity: Social Enterprise Ecosystems as a Framework for Sustainable Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Allan Villegas-Mateos, 2022. "Toward a Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Elżbieta Bukalska & Marek Zinecker & Michał Bernard Pietrzak, 2021. "Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) of Family Firms and CEO Behavioral Biases in the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Theodoraki, Christina & Dana, Léo-Paul & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "Building sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: A holistic approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 346-360.
    8. Luiza Ossowska & Dorota Janiszewska & Grzegorz Kwiatkowski, 2023. "The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of Food Festivals—A Vendors’ Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Francesca Ricciardi & Cecilia Rossignoli & Alessandro Zardini, 2021. "Grand challenges and entrepreneurship: Emerging issues, research streams, and theoretical landscape," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1673-1705, December.
    10. Mariana Pita & Joana Costa & António Carrizo Moreira, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Entrepreneurial Initiative: Building a Multi-Country Taxonomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, April.
    11. R. Tri Priyono Budi Santoso & Sony Heru Priyanto & I. Wayan Ruspendi Junaedi & Donald Samuel Slamet Santoso & Lasmono Tri Sunaryanto, 2023. "Project-based entrepreneurial learning (PBEL): a blended model for startup creations at higher education institutions," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Régis Y. Chenavaz & Alexandra Couston & Stéphanie Heichelbech & Isabelle Pignatel & Stanko Dimitrov, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurial Ventures: A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, May.
    13. John Hagedoorn & Helen Haugh & Paul Robson & Kate Sugar, 2023. "Social innovation, goal orientation, and openness: insights from social enterprise hybrids," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 173-198, January.
    14. Daniel Prokop & Piers Thompson, 2023. "Defining networks in entrepreneurial ecosystems: the openness of ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 517-538, August.
    15. Sara Moggi & Paul Pierce & Nicole Bernardi, 2022. "From sustainability to thrivability: A novel framework for entrepreneurial ecosystems," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 829-853, June.
    16. Mansouri, Sasan & Momtaz, Paul P., 2022. "Financing sustainable entrepreneurship: ESG measurement, valuation, and performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(6).
    17. Maria Urbaniec & Mariusz Sołtysik & Anna Prusak & Konrad Kułakowski & Magdalena Wojnarowska, 2022. "Fostering sustainable entrepreneurship by business strategies: An explorative approach in the bioeconomy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 251-267, January.
    18. Kamran Hameed & Khuram Shahzad & Naveed Yazdani, 2023. "Global Incidences of Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Conceptualization and Measurement Framework," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 5033-5064, December.
    19. Vikas Menghwani & Rory Wheat & Bobbie Balicki & Greg Poelzer & Bram Noble & Nicolas Mansuy, 2023. "Bioenergy for Community Energy Security in Canada: Challenges in the Business Ecosystem," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-15, February.
    20. Yasemin Eroglu & Lubna Rashid, 2022. "The Impact of Perceived Support and Barriers on the Sustainable Orientation of Turkish Startups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    21. Sanjay Chaudhary & Puneet Kaur & Hind Alofaysan & Jantje Halberstadt & Amandeep Dhir, 2023. "Connecting the dots? Entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable entrepreneurship as pathways to sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5935-5951, December.
    22. Azmat, Fara & Lim, Weng Marc & Moyeen, Abdul & Voola, Ranjit & Gupta, Girish, 2023. "Convergence of business, innovation, and sustainability at the tipping point of the sustainable development goals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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