The research on entrepreneurial ecosystem proposes distinctive perspectives. According to Isenberg
(2011), firstly, the explicit focus is on entrepreneurial activity and especially on high growth firms.
Secondly, the emphasis is on local and regional environments and the conditions required generating and
supporting entrepreneurship. Thirdly, it emphasizes the interactions between framework conditions and
local/regional geographical environments.
With five articles, in this special issue, we seek to bring these contexts, analyzing diverse approaches
on entrepreneurial ecosystems within specific activities (agrifood and crafts sector), spaces within
companies and the importance of higher education institutions in this development.
First, the emphasis is on local and regional environments and on the conditions needed to generate and
support entrepreneurship. Thus, Carvalho presents the state of the art on Entrepreneurship and Regional
Development, seeking to resume the state of the field and open paths for future research and also present
some clues to guide research in this field.
Secondly, Seoanea and Villares bring the context of dimensions that relate to the professional
performance of 100 best companies to work in Spain. Albuquerquea and Amaro da Luz present an
example of a regional innovation ecosystem in Portugal associated with a global and synergistic
intervention in the field of active and healthy aging and reflect on the critical elements of model
replication.
Third, Albuquerquea and Amaro da Luz present an example of a regional innovation ecosystem in
Portugal associated with a global and synergistic intervention in the field of active and healthy aging and
reflect on the critical elements of model replication.
Then, we have one paper in the context of entrepreneurial activities of innovation in organizations.
Sarmentoa et al. bring the issue of product innovation in the craft sector, showing ways to foster product
innovation in this area and investigating the barriers and problems faced by artisans.
And then we emphasize the interactions between framing conditions and local/regional geographic
environments, but more specifically with higher education institutions. In the article "A model of
entrepreneurial intention in Mexican university students", Ríos-Manríqueza, Pérez-Rendónb and
González-Martínez present an entrepreneurial intention model of Mexican university students. Four
independent variables are considered: Personal and social resources, resources innovations, performance
features and creativity. The results indicate that the four variables proposed in the model are relevant.
Entrepreneurial ecosystems involve organizations (or specific sectors), people, locations, educational
institutions among other possibilities. We seek to bring in this Special Issue the various possibilities and
search for the social, economic and human development of the entrepreneurial ecosystems.
