Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at 14:00-15:00 in room SOC-356 / MS Teams

A presentation by Bruno Fischer & Gustavo Salati Moraes, PhD (Associate Professors at the University of Campinas, Brazil).

📝The concept of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) situates entrepreneurial activity as a context-embedded phenomenon. By providing a clear roadmap about what to look for in EE dynamics, scholars have put forward a set of elements and mechanisms shaping the configurations of EE. We now, however, face a conundrum involving the incapacity of explaining why places do not follow prescribed configurational trajectories. In this article we argue that places and regions behave as Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), a feature that makes it unfeasible to accommodate structural isomorphism with the evolutionary nature of EE. To address these questions, we have gathered data for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States for the period 2009-2023. We address entrepreneurial activity using two complementary variables on our output of interest: SBIR awards and New Business Starts. The first analytical step involved running econometric estimations to check for statistical consistency in the relationship between EE dimensions and entrepreneurial output. Second, we have applied fsQCA techniques to identify the existence of causal complexity and equifinality in the dataset. Here, we move beyond previous studies by introducing a temporal analysis of fsQCA. We can observe configurational heterogeneity and changes in places, suggesting continuous adaptation processes. Moreover, differences are noticeable when assessing distinct specifications of entrepreneurial output, an aspect that underscores the existence of deeper causation channels within the operating logic of EE. These findings have implications for our comprehension of EE as well as the limits of structuralist approaches in offering insights for policy and practice.

This presentation introduces a working paper derived from the project “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Configurations and Critical Success Factors” funded by the National Science Foundation in a partnership involving The George Washington University (Nicholas Vonortas) and the Research Triangle Institute International (Jeffrey Alexander and Adams Bailey).

Bruno Brandão Fischer is an Associate Professor at the School of Applied Sciences (FCA) of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil. His research is deeply rooted in the geography of innovation, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on how these dynamics play out in developing economies. He holds a PhD in Economics and Innovation Management from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, as well as Master’s degrees from both the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Dr. Fischer serves as an Associate Editor for The Journal of Technology Transfer and has published extensively in leading international journals such as Technovation, Journal of Business Research, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change. His professional expertise often extends into policy advisory roles, where he analyzes innovation systems and the impact of university-industry collaborations on regional competitiveness. 
Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes is an Associate Professor at the School of Applied Sciences (FCA) of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil. His academic career is defined by a strong focus on sustainable entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and the strategic application of information technology and analytical intelligence. He holds both a PhD and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the São Paulo School of Business Administration at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EAESP), complemented by an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Sorocaba. His research investigates the drivers of green entrepreneurship and the role of university environments in fostering innovative behavior among students and faculty. He is a frequent collaborator on international research projects, particularly those examining how knowledge-intensive ecosystems can facilitate transitions toward more sustainable societies and economies. His scholarly contributions are widely recognized, with numerous articles published in respected international journals such as Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, and Sustainability. Beyond his teaching and research, he is actively involved in policy-oriented projects.

The seminar is in English. Further information: pia.riips@taltech.ee

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