There is still considerable room in the literature to clarify how public policies can specifically contribute to fostering the creation and development of entrepreneurial ecosystems in the early stages of their evolutionary cycle. This study investigates how these government efforts have been directed toward regions in developing countries that still have nascent innovative entrepreneurship ecosystems. The objective of this research is to understand how a spark public policy can promote the initial development of a regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.
The research object involved actors, such as researchers, policymakers and entrepreneurs, who participated in the Economic Clusters of Innovation Program (ECIP), a public innovation policy linked to the government of the state of Ceará, based on joint action by government secretaries. The data collection procedures used research instruments comprising primary and secondary data, publications, and semi-structured interviews. For the data analysis of the research, codifications were performed based on emerging concepts based on Gioia et al. (2013) approach.
From the analyses conducted in this study, we conclude that the main benefits generated by the program were related to the knowledge spillovers created, the connections established between Triple Helix actors, the fostering of entrepreneurial orientation for researchers, and the accumulated learning by the participating startups. Based on the experience of the ECIP, we have outlined the above analytical framework with the steps followed by the program to seed an entrepreneurial ecosystem, starting from this spark policy.
Based on these findings, this study proposed a framework that offers a conceptual structure for understanding the stages involved in implementing an Entrepreneurial Innovative Spark Policy, a policy aimed at sparking the initial formation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. As an analytical tool, the framework should serve as a guide for industry managers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and especially policymakers. The guidelines and expected outputs presented provide important concepts for designing a regional entrepreneurship public policy based on the Triple Helix.
The social implications of this study lie in the potential of Entrepreneurial Spark Policies to strengthen the relational and institutional foundations of entrepreneurial ecosystems in peripheral regions. Rather than creating ecosystems directly, such policies can activate connections among entrepreneurs, firms, universities, government, and support organizations, fostering collective legitimacy, knowledge circulation, and technology transfer. The findings also highlight the importance of participation, coordination, and shared regional identity in sustaining these relationships beyond the policy intervention. By supporting these conditions, Entrepreneurial Spark Policies may contribute to more cohesive and autonomous entrepreneurial ecosystems, strengthening regional capacity for entrepreneurship, innovation, and collective development over time.
This research allowed for the analysis of how synergies between public, academic, and business institutions can be leveraged to promote innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and drive regional development. Additionally, the research provides empirical data to evaluate the implemented policy, helping to adjust strategies and actions to maximize positive impacts. Understanding these dynamics can also reveal best practices and specific challenges across different regions, offering a valuable guide for policymakers and stakeholders in promoting nascent entrepreneurial ecosystems.
