Brics & Entrepreneurial Universities: A Brazilian Perspective

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is a vital component in a country's pursuit of a sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic development and growth strategy. In the past decades, BRICS nations' rapid economic development and growth have relied strongly on entrepreneurial activities as one of their main economic strategies. BRICS countries have fostered and supported entrepreneurial activities, including the role of universities in fostering entrepreneurial activities. This paper assesses the role and experience of Brazilian entrepreneurial universities in fostering and creating a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem within the Brazilian economy. Universities play a key role in unleashing new and innovative rounds of entrepreneurial activity and in creating and fostering a vibrant innovation ecosystem. The aim of the research project that gave rise to this paper was to identify, propose and validate a set of indicators for innovation and ST&I that identify the stage of maturity of the entrepreneurial university model in Brazilian universities. Our results shows that the indicators identified in the literature, proposed and validated using a questionnaire applied to the 68 best Brazilian universities can be used to underpin institutional innovation policies. Our results also strongly indicate that Brazilian universities are becoming vital players in fostering Brazil's innovation and technology ecosystem.