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Internationally, the ecosystem concept is used as a tool by policymakers to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across city-regions. However, crafting effective ecosystem policies is made difficult by the lack of data on ecosystem inputs, activities, and outcomes. The aim of this event is to develop the capacity of the local entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems by focusing on possible scenarios and options for place-based innovation and entrepreneurial policies. We will identify what types of metrics exist to measure and benchmark ecosystems, which metrics are being developed to inform policy, and what metrics should exist based on different user needs. 

Three groups of key targeted participants include:    
1. Policymakers and practitioners – we will identify the nature of diverse place-based entrepreneurial and innovation policies and appropriate methodologies for their evaluation;
2. Those from business support organisations (e.g. incubators, accelerators, SME business advisors) – we will identify factors for entrepreneurial growth in specific places given different national contexts and socio-economic environments; and
3. Researchers interested in the theory and practices of ecosystem concepts – we critically evaluate the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems as a conceptual and policy framework to be adapted in different national contexts.

Tentative structure of the day
10.30 - 11.00: Coffee/registration
11.00 - 11.15: Welcome; why ecosystem and objectives 
11.15 - 11.50: Measuring ecosystems – different approaches and perspectives (Prof. Jonathan Levie, NUI Galway)
11.50 - 13.00: Policy session – short interventions and panel discussion with international, UK, Scottish policy communities
13.00 - 14.00: Lunch break
14.00 - 14.35: Entrepreneurial ecosystems in the UK and Japan: Catalysing knowledge-creation through new innovation spaces (Dr Tuukka Toivonen, UCL)
14.35 - 15.45: The UK-Japan perspectives – short interventions and panel discussion
15.45 - 16.00: Coffee break
16.00 - 17.10: Mapping ecosystems - new perspectives and emerging methodologies
17.10 - 17.30: Take aways and ways forward - end of the day.

This workshop is part of the project funded by the ESRC/AHRC, Entrepreneurial and Innovation Ecosystems in the UK and Japan – Place-based scenarios and options.  The event is co-organised by the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh and support from both universities is acknowledged.

Organisers: Dr Fumi Kitagawa (University of Edinburgh, PI); Prof. Colin Mason (University of Glasgow); Dr Ben Spigel (University of Edinburgh)