Knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship integrating Schumpeter, evolutionary economics, and innovation systems

Abstract

This article proposes a novel conceptualization of knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship, which can capture the main characteristics of a vital phenomenon in the modern economy. Our conceptualization is based upon the integration of Schumpeterian entrepreneurship, evolutionary economics, and innovation systems approach. It consists of a theoretical definition and a stylized process model. According to this view, knowledgeintensive innovative entrepreneurs are involved in the creation, diffusion, and use of knowledge; introduce new products and technologies; draw resources and ideas from their innovation system; and introduce change and dynamism into the economy. In the article, we also offer an empirical definition of knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship, which we then use to identify its key characteristics and relevance. We conclude with recommendations for a future research agenda.

Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship and S3: Conceptualizing Strategies for Sustainability

“…Knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship (KIE) is an established empirical and theoretical phenomenon thanks to EU projects, edited scientific books, and peer-reviewed scientific journals [2,29,30]. Its proponents have argued in national policy and research communities that understanding it more fully can lead to tangible ways to increase productivity and positively influence economic growth in developed and developing countries and sectors.…”

“…While this literature conceptualizes the whole entrepreneurship process as KIE, in order to measure and make more specific empirical studies, one must focus on how individuals start projects and firms, in close interaction with their environment, or innovation system, known as a KIE firm. To summarize by way of Malerba and McKelvey's [2] (p. 6) definition, KIE firms are " . .…”

“…The onset of research advocating transformative innovation policy and sustainable development reinforces this view. This is because KIE conceptualizes entrepreneurial activity with the potential to make social impact regardless of whether it materializes in high-tech, low-tech, service-dominated, or creative industries [1][2][3]. The resilience of the concept is arguably a crucial asset to the overall need for adaptability to local context that is present in smart specialization policy making, since S3 argues for many specific types of entrepreneurial action, but it is less clear conceptually what types of ventures should act, and how.…”

Knowledge Management and Innovation in the Digital Era: Providing a Sustainable Solution

“…For the last couple of decades, various researchers have been focusing on knowledge management in the digital era [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Up to now, the focus has mainly been up to the knowledge transfer within an organization [12,13,14], innovation [15,16,17], and organization's performance [18,19,20]. Having in mind that these knowledge management practices differ significantly between organizations, employees do not always understand what does it mean to support the development of such knowledge management practices as well as how different knowledge management practices differ from each other.…”

Knowledge, entrepreneurship and regional transformation: contributing to the Schumpeterian and evolutionary perspective on the relationships between them

“…These topics are grounded in evolutionary economics, explicitly the theory of the firm and recent research further links the micro and macro levels. Malerba and McKelvey (2018) propose a novel conceptualization and empirical insights in BKnowledgeintensive Innovative Entrepreneurship: Integrating Schumpeter, Evolutionary Economics and Innovation Systems.^To do so, they rely upon many existing theories, and explicitly integrate three theoretical building blocks: Schumpeter, evolutionary economics, and innovation systems. This enables them to propose a theoretical definition and a stylized process model of knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship, which links the individual entrepreneurs, with a much broader context to access resources, opportunities, and which influences future development of the firm.…”