The Role of the Academic Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Building Entrepreneurial and Innovation Potential. Conclusions from Chosen Polish Universities

In the second decade of the 21st century societies and economies have visibly concentrated around entrepreneurship and innovation. Academic entrepreneurship emerged as one of the ecosystems supporting these trends. However, scientific research dedicated to entrepreneurship education does not seem to be extensive enough. The present study shall have its contribution by trying to analyse the role and measure the effectiveness of academic entrepreneurship and its institutions in the process of building socio-economic potential in terms of entrepreneurship and innovation given the local context.Design/methodology/approach: The study conducted in March 2017 was designed to verify whether the activity of particular entities within the academic entrepreneurship ecosystem promotes entrepreneurial and pro-innovation behaviours among students. The qualitative part of the study was based on structured in-depth interviews with academic teachers of business and non-business universities. The quantitative sample was obtained with the use of a standardized questionnaire directed to students from several Polish universities. The data were complemented by a documentary analysis of reports and statistics related to the subject.Findings: The gathered data have shown that Polish students from the selected universities have some interest in entrepreneurial and pro-innovative activity, but level of their entrepreneurial knowledge is not satisfactory. The obtained data suggest some mismatch between the relatively complex and quickly evolving academic entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region and the level of profits it shall bring to its potential beneficiaries.Research/practical implications: The study tries to draw practical conclusions from how the functioning of the academic entrepreneurship ecosystem translates into particular behaviours and attitudes. The recommendations of the paper shall be useful to regional educational and economic policies in terms of cooperation between education, science and business. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the overall discussion over building entrepreneurial and innovation potential in the society by way of cooperation between universities and businesses. Relatively new and constantly changing ecosystem of academic entrepreneurship is still quite disorganised and unregulated. The study attempts not only to explain and categorize it but also to measure the actual quality of entrepreneurship education. A concise assessment of the academic entrepreneurship ecosystem is provided based on the analysis of its chosen entities within selected Polish universities.