A framework for entrepreneurial discovery processes

Abstract

This thesis reviewed European and international practices for implementing the entrepreneurial discovery process and analysed its evolution within innovation policies. It developed a framework categorising key characteristics into four areas: driver, stakeholders, regional capacity, and policy cycle stages. Findings highlighted the adaptability of the entrepreneurial discovery process to different regional contexts, challenges in stakeholder engagement, and the importance of regional capacity in resource organization.

The research also showed the pandemic's impact on smart specialisation strategies, emphasising the need to enhance organizational structures, improve actor coordination, and develop operational and political capacities. The study concluded that the entrepreneurial discovery process framework could be applied to other policy areas, with consideration of context-specific factors and adaptive elements. This research provided a robust foundation for future policy development and implementation, demonstrating the value of the entrepreneurial discovery process in fostering innovation and effective policymaking.