Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: How Networks and Social Capital Contribute to Entrepreneurial Success

This research project therefore explores how entrepreneurs/ businesses interact and collaborate with each other, exchange resources, and, thereby, generate social capital. It is of specific interest how collaborative patterns vary between the micro and macro level of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thus, this research is in line with the ESRC's strategic priority of productivity. The UI< is facing a flatlining of its productivity since the 2007 financial crises and is falling behind other developed countries. One way to solve this stagnation of productivity is to encourage and invest into innovative ideas and businesses to boost the regional economy. This research focusses in particular on three of the seven thematic areas set out by Productivity Insights Network, innovation and enterprise, investment and infrastructure. Aiming to enhance understanding the processes of network generation, provided by entrepreneurial hubs and how young businesses make use of them, we develop new insights to the productivity puzzle.