Mapping the role of stakeholders in building a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem : the case of South Karelia

Abstract

Despite growing interest in sustainable entrepreneurship, a limited number of studies explicitly employ the concept of a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem (SEE), and the field remains in its early stages. One particularly underexplored area concerns the role of stakeholders in shaping SEEs. Recent research has called for more in-depth and empirical insights into how actors contribute to ecosystem development. This study addresses this gap by examining how key stakeholders contribute to the development of a SEE.

This study adopts a qualitative case study approach, combining secondary data with eleven semi-structured interviews conducted with regional stakeholders in South Karelia, Finland. The secondary data analysis identified key stakeholders in the region, their current action in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship, and mapped their primary contributions across six domains: policy, finance, human capital, culture, markets, and support. The semi-structured interview analysis provided further insights into the critical roles and actions of stakeholders, revealing three core dimensions: ecosystem governance and orchestration; support for market entry and sustainability-oriented business growth; and the mobilization of regional assets and advanced technologies to drive the green transition.

The findings of this study contribute to the SEE literature by providing in-depth insights into how regional stakeholders collectively influence and co-create the conditions that shape the development of ecosystems conducive to sustainable entrepreneurial activity.