'Clearly, HEIs are discovering their innovative and entrepreneurial potential to reply to the society's distinct need for them to have a more entrepreneurial role, namely in innovation. This book succeeds in discussing the theme from an interdisciplinary perspective. For that reason, this book will be of help to practitioners in university management roles and policy-makers as well as anyone researching this theme and teaching entrepreneurship in HEIs.' - Nuno Fernandes Crespo, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal 'This book offers educators, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and researchers significant and practical implications. After reading the book, we can conclude that the different experiences described by authors on the academic tools and educational methods can be generalized in many other universities around the world, in both developed and developing countries.' - Waleed Omri, EDC Paris Business School, France 'Edited by four leading researchers, Entrepreneurial Universities provides innovative insights into how universities are contributing to the emergence of an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is both redefining universities themselves and shaping society. It is an important book for all those interested in how universities are reinventing themselves in a time of profound societal transformation.' - Tim Marjoribanks, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia 'Universities are called to be more and more entrepreneurial - that is innovative, proactive and risk-taking - to promote regional development and economic growth. As a Professor working in two of the most entrepreneurial Italian universities, I benefited from reading this book. I consequently recommend it to all my colleagues to guide their strategic choices and their daily activities.' - Salvatore Sciascia, IULM University and Cattaneo University, Italy With an increasing focus on the knowledge and service economies, it is important to understand the role that entrepreneurial universities play through collaboration in policy and, in turn, the impact they have on policy. The authors evaluate how universities engage with communities while also balancing stakeholder considerations, and explore how universities should be managed in the future to integrate into global society effectively. The book reflects the internationalisation of entrepreneurial universities with examples from Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, Malaysia, India, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the UK. Each chapter identifies the differing cultural influences and how changes in policy approaches mean universities are constantly evolving. The authors also look into how culture influences entrepreneurship education, and in turn how culture affects the initiatives of policy-makers. With a focus on enhancing entrepreneurial opportunities, universities are shown to respond by creating effective initiatives that benefit the wider community through successful collaboration with institutions. The book identifies the close working relationship between new government policies and developing entrepreneurial universities. Researchers, policy analysts and students of entrepreneurship education, education management and policy will find this book a useful supplementary read for understanding the future role of universities.

This timely book presents contemporary research on the key role of entrepreneurship in firm growth and development strategies. The contributors reveal that a high level of entrepreneurial activity contributes to economic growth, innovative activities, competition, job creation and local development. The contents of the book, although varied in terms of the topics covered and research methods used, demonstrate the role of entrepreneurship in relation to growth and economic development in a variety of different contexts. Drawing together leading-edge European research, the expert contributors analyze a number of different issues, such as whether firm growth and performance are different concepts in entrepreneurship studies, growth strategies of IT firms, the start-up funding process, cross-border cooperation between enterprises and SME competitiveness. Entrepreneurship, Growth and Economic Development will appeal to researchers and students of entrepreneurship and small business. Policy makers will also find this book a source of inspiration. Contributors: K. Balaton, K. Becker, M. Brannback, A. Carsrud, T.M. Cooney, H. Crijns, A. Fayolle, D. Finn, V. Gupta, T. Hogan, L. Hortovanyi, E. Hutson, K. Ikeuchi, N. Kiviluoto, F. Kronthaler, J. Lepoutre, C. O Gorman, H. Okamuro, M. Raposo, D. Smallbone, C. Streb, L. Szerb, O. Tilleuil, J. Ulbert, W. Van den Berghe, K. Wagner, F. Welter, O. Witmeur, M. Xheneti

`The papers in this volume showcase the depth and richness of contemporary European research. The contributions offer invaluable insights on diverse facets of entrepreneurship including entrepreneurial universities as catalysts of innovation and regional development, perspectives on small firm internationalization and strategic alliances. This compelling collection is essential reading for all those who wish to stay updated on leading research findings and the methodological diversity that is a hallmark of European research. Very worthwhile policy-relevant angles are an added bonus.' - Anne de Bruin, Massey University, New Zealand `The present volume with its fourteen contributions by authors from eleven different European countries gives a perfect overview of what theory and practice of entrepreneurship in Europe is all about. Entrepreneurship is often cited as a powerful instrument to help economies recover after the banking crisis. The fourteen contributions provide valuable material to show that entrepreneurship is indeed a much needed instrument and how policymakers and others can make use of it. Also, the impact and the pervasiveness of the entrepreneurial instrument are thoroughly illustrated.' - A. Roy Thurik, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands This timely book provides a fresh perspective on contemporary research in the field of entrepreneurship and small business, considering both theory and application. Drawing together leading-edge European research, the expert contributors apply a variety of research methods to a number of specific issues - including the entrepreneurial climate at universities, the role of knowledge and experience in the internationalization of knowledge-intensive firms, the links between entrepreneurial orientation and performance in micro-sized firms, and organizational entrepreneurship. In so doing, the book sheds new light on the key role played by entrepreneurship as an engine for regional development. With a unique set of insights linking theory and practice, this book will appeal to postgraduate and advanced students of entrepreneurship and small business, researchers and policy-makers.

Cooperation and clusters have become the guiding paradigms for explaining and promoting regional competitiveness, but the cooperation process between firms and universities and the transfer of knowledge in guiding and nurturing regional competitiveness has received relatively little attention. This book strives to fill this gap in highlighting the connection between inter-firm cooperation in regional clusters, innovation and regional networks, and the role of universities in them . It goes beyond the traditional economic approach of clusters and includes 'soft factors' in the explanation of regional competitiveness, and connects the literature on clusters to the literature of learning and knowledge creation as sources of regional competitiveness. It aims to foster an international and interdisciplinary exchange of perspectives by presenting current developments, case studies, best practices as well as new integrated theoretical approaches and applications.

Cooperation and clusters have become the guiding paradigms for explaining and promoting regional competitiveness, but the cooperation process between firms and universities and the transfer of knowledge in guiding and nurturing regional competitiveness has received relatively little attention. This book strives to fill this gap in highlighting the connection between inter-firm cooperation in regional clusters, innovation and regional networks, and the role of universities in them . It goes beyond the traditional economic approach of clusters and includes 'soft factors' in the explanation of regional competitiveness, and connects the literature on clusters to the literature of learning and knowledge creation as sources of regional competitiveness. It aims to foster an international and interdisciplinary exchange of perspectives by presenting current developments, case studies, best practices as well as new integrated theoretical approaches and applications.