Conference Agenda

Universities have evolved from knowledge dissemination institutions to key actors in

entrepreneurial ecosystems, fostering economic growth through knowledge

commercialization, business incubation, and entrepreneurial education. This study examines

the transition of the University Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (UEE) within the studied

university, focusing on its evolution from an academic entrepreneurship model centered on

technology transfer to a comprehensive entrepreneurial education framework. Using a

longitudinal case study approach, we analyze corporate reports, strategic university policies,

and planned stakeholder interviews from 2010 to 2023. The study identifies key thresholds in

the university’s entrepreneurial evolution and conceptualizes the transformation across three

phases: Foundation and Initial Growth (2010-2013), Development and Expansion (2014-

2017), and Maturity and Consolidation (2018-2023). By applying insights from organizational

change theory, this research highlights how universities can institutionalize entrepreneurial

culture and capacity building. The findings contribute to the broader literature on

entrepreneurial universities by demonstrating how governance, stakeholder engagement, and

infrastructure integration drive sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study offers

practical implications for higher education institutions seeking to develop long-term

entrepreneurship strategies.

Universities have evolved into entrepreneurial institutions, increasingly intertwined with their surrounding ecosystems. This transformation introduces a set of complex tensions between internal academic missions and external entrepreneurial dynamics. Drawing on the concept of multidexterity, this study examines the multiple tensions arising in University-Ecosystem interactions and explores how universities strategically address them. Specifically, it highlights university accelerators (U-accelerators) as pivotal structural units that simultaneously manage internal and external knowledge, resources, and capacities to foster university startups (U-startups).

Empirically, the study identifies and analyzes U-accelerators that function as key ecosystem nodes, effectively mediating University-Ecosystem tensions. Employing a two-stage mixed-method approach, a quantitative phase first identifies high-impact U-accelerators across 21 global ecosystems within the Global Ecosystem Dynamics framework. This is followed by an in-depth qualitative case study of the most influential U-accelerators, focusing on their roles, strategies, and resource management practices.

This research advances the theoretical discourse on ambidexterity by incorporating a multidexterity lens, offering new insights into how universities balance competing demands in dynamic ecosystems. It also provides practical implications for university leadership, offering strategies to optimize structural configurations that enhance University-Ecosystem interactions and entrepreneurial engagement.

This study examines the impact of entrepreneurship ecosystems (EEs) on population health outcomes, focusing on Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB), Healthy Life Expectancy (HLEB), and Access to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Using advanced machine learning techniques, including Boosting, SHapley Additive Explanations (SHAP), and Partial Dependence Plots (PDPs), the research identifies key EE components influencing health improvements. The Business Services Sector (BSS), Physical and Services Infrastructure (PSI), and Governmental Entrepreneurship Programs (GP) emerge as critical drivers, shaping healthcare access, fostering innovation, and promoting economic empowerment. This study extends theoretical frameworks such as the Health-Enhancing Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (HEEE) Theory, the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Framework, Amartya Sen's Capability Approach, and Institutional Theory, framing EEs as structural determinants of health. Interaction effects, notably between BSS and PSI, underscore the need for integrated policy approaches. Practical recommendations include investments in entrepreneurial infrastructure and health-related startups, alongside aligning business ecosystems with health systems.

This research aims to analyze the interactions between Knowledge-Based Capital (KBC), Absorptive Capacity, and Innovation Capacity in the Innovation Ecosystem of Florianópolis, a city that stands out in the Brazilian scenario for its innovative dynamics. The research adopts a qualitative approach, collecting data through semi-structured interviews with key actors of the Innovation Ecosystem of Florianópolis. These stakeholders were selected to capture an in-depth understanding of the interactions in this ecosystem and how they influence innovation in the region. Data analysis was conducted based on the content analysis method, allowing the identification of patterns and relationships between the concepts investigated. The results indicate that Knowledge-Based Capital, through its human, relational, structural, and social capital dimensions, significantly influences the Absorptive Capacity of organizations in the Florianópolis Ecosystem. The interaction between these types of capital and the routines of acquisition, assimilation, transformation, and application of knowledge directly impacts the innovation capacity of the ecosystem. The research concludes that combining these capital dimensions and how they interact favor innovation and strengthens the Florianópolis ecosystem, thus promoting an environment conducive to economic sustainability and regional development.