Knowledge-intensive Entrepreneurship in Innovation Ecosystems: towards the conceptual model of a Regional Entrepreneurial Learning Center

Purpose - The paper presents a thematic conceptualization of a Regional Entrepreneurial Learning Center, conceived as a catalyst of the knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship in the regions and a strategic asset for their growth in the scenario of the entrepreneurial economy (Thurik, 2008; Audresch and Thurik, 2001). Incardinated on the Knowledge Triangle and aimed to enhance, primarily, the social and economic valorization of the Key Enabling Technologies, the Center will promote the synergic integration between the universities, primary actors in the process of the knowledge creation, the companies, that allow the socio-economic valorization of the knowledge available through the innovation and entrepreneurial processes, and the governmental institutions, supporting their knowledge exchanges and knowledge valorization processes. Coherently with the emerging nature of the knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship as entrepreneurial learning process and inspired by the current debate on the innovation ecosystems, the Center will promote the development of continuous and dynamic entrepreneurial learning processes to create a young knowledge intensive entrepreneurs, the evolution of the Universities towards an entrepreneurial configuration, and to accelerate the diffusion of entrepreneurial behaviors and culture in all the regional organizations and institutions. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on a constructive and qualitative review of the academic and policy-based existent literature on the issues related to the meaning and dynamics characterizing the knowledge economy as entrepreneurial economy, the knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship as technology-driven entrepreneurship, the entrepreneurial learning processes as main dimension of the entrepreneurship in the knowledge scenario. The theoretical background previously recalled addresses the conceptualization of the Regional Entrepreneurial Learning Center proposed by providing useful insights for determining its mission, processes, and strategies as well as to comprehend its meaning as booster of knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship and source comparative advantage in the regions. Originality/value - The paper presents elements of originality under different perspectives. In particular, a first valuable element springs from its contribution to the current debate on the knowledge intensive entrepreneurship as core process for the social and economic growth of the regions starting from the valorization of the knowledge and the Key Enabling Technologies. The focus on the dynamic perspective of the entrepreneurial learning process is a further valuable contribution at the scientific debate on the comprehension of the meaning and instances of the behavioral implications on the entrepreneurship and its implications on the effectiveness of the process of knowledge creation, absorption and diffusion in innovation ecosystems. Practical implications - The practical implications provided by the paper are identifiable into the main areas in which the Center will focus on. In operating as catalyst for the diffusion of knowledge intensive entrepreneurship in the regions, the Center will impact on the growth of the knowledge intensive entrepreneurship in the young people, and the diffusion of entrepreneurial culture and behaviors within the organizations, institutions and Universities. Such practical implications result coherent with the objectives of the European Agenda for the Smart Specialization and the several initiatives launched for overcoming the European Paradox of low innovation capability.