IfM-Materialien 05.03.2020 | 2020 Determinant of regional start-up activities – A feasibility study

This feasibility study explores the underlying causes of regional differences in entrepreneurial activity, a question that presents a number of methodological and empirical challenges. Its primary objective is to assess whether these challenges can be effectively addressed. The study finds that the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems provides a robust conceptual framework for analysing regional start-up activity and its key determinants, while also offering valuable guidance for selecting relevant data sources. A review of existing datasets indicates that currently available data can generate meaningful insights into the drivers of regional entrepreneurial activity. However, significant data gaps remain and should be addressed progressively through targeted data collection and additional research.
The next step is to establish a comprehensive regional database, which will serve as the foundation for developing a regional Entrepreneurship Barometer. This tool will monitor the current state of regional start-up activity and provide evidence-based insights to support regional and economic policy interventions.