Technological entrepreneurship: Regional variations and impacts of entrepreneurship policy

As our society is moving towards a knowledge-based economy, competitive advantage of the firm as well as the nation is now virtually defined by its ability to innovate and exploit technological opportunities. Idea exploitation, new firm creation and growth are dependent upon a good supply of budding entrepreneurs, who either engage in entrepreneurial processes independently or within their place of work. Entrepreneurs are thus the catalyst for technological innovation and economic vitality at all levels. To create an environment conducive to technological entrepreneurship, governments have a big role to play and many countries, including China, have formulated policies to support technological entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, we still do not know the extent to which these policies work, as our understanding of why some regions become vital centres of technopreneurial activity while others languish and of what role governments at regional level should play remains very limited. This is specifically hampered by a lack of empirical evidence on impacts of entrepreneurship policy in general and of technological entrepreneurship in particular.