Search Results (412)

European pig farmers are challenged by increasingly stringent EU regulations to protect the environment from pollution, to meet animal welfare standards and to make pig farming more sustainable. Economic sustainability is defined as the ability to achieve higher profits by respecting social and natural resources. This study is focused on the analysis of the economic resilience of intensive and extensive farming systems, based on data collected from 56 farms located in Denmark, Poland, Italy and Spain. Productive and economic performances of these farms are analyzed, and economic resilience is assessed through a survey including a selection of indicators, belonging to different themes: [i] resilience of resources, [ii] entrepreneurship, [iii] propensity to extensification. The qualitative data from the questionnaire allow for an exploration of how production systems relate to the three dimensions of resilience. Different levels of resilience were found and discussed for intensive and extensive farms. The findings suggest that intensive farms benefit from high standards and greater bargaining power within the supply chain. Extensive systems can achieve profitability through value-added strategies and generally display good resilience. Policies that support investment and risk reduction are essential for enhancing farm resilience and robustness, while strengthening farmer networks can improve adaptability. Full article

Non-agricultural business activity of farmers is crucial not only for stabilizing farm income but also for the multifunctional development of rural areas. Capturing changes in the level and nature of this activity supports the development of sustainable agricultural and rural policy. In this context, this study aimed to identify the scale and types of non-agricultural business activity and to recognize the main determinants of such business activities undertaken by farmers in Poland between 2002 and 2022. Sectoral-level data from the Agricultural Censuses and cyclical studies of the structure of farms and household budgets were used to approximate underlying motivations for running non-agricultural business (opportunity vs. necessity entrepreneurship). The findings indicate that, in Poland, the impact of regressive factors remains strong, pushing farmers to take on additional business activity due to the large share of small and very small farms. However, during the 21st century, a gradual spread of opportunity entrepreneurship among Polish farmers has been observed. This study highlights the rationale for supporting non-agriculture business activity motivated by progressive factors to increase the income resilience of farmer households and the sustainable development of agriculture. The article indicates the need for further research on the motives for undertaking non-agricultural economic activities by farmers and the impact of this activity on the allocation of farm resources. Full article

This study explores sustainable rural tourism entrepreneurship within the Urlaub am Bauernhof (UaB) cooperative network in Austria, offering an integrated model that unites financial, social, environmental, institutional, and marketing dimensions. Employing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) on data from 393 farm-based accommodation stakeholders, this research identifies sustainable entrepreneurship as comprising six interconnected dimensions: Economic Resilience and Diversification, Sociocultural Integration, Environmental and Regional Commitment, Market Visibility and Strategic Communication, Quality Assurance and Institutional Support, and Perceived Value and Branding. This multidimensional and hierarchically structured framework reflects the complex yet coherent nature of sustainability-driven entrepreneurship in cooperative tourism networks. The findings confirm the multidimensional nature of sustainable entrepreneurship and support the hypothesized structural relationships. The UaB network is presented as a transferable model that demonstrates how cooperative frameworks can enhance sustainability, regional identity, and rural revitalization, offering valuable insights and practical guidance for rural regions in the Western Balkans, where economic challenges, depopulation, and underdeveloped tourism infrastructure prevail. By illustrating a successful cooperative approach rooted in sustainability and regional identity, this study contributes to policy-making aimed at fostering resilient, culturally rich, and environmentally responsible rural tourism entrepreneurship in transitioning contexts. Full article

Entrepreneurship serves as a vital engine of economic development, yet the mechanisms translating entrepreneurial intention into behavior have gradually emerged. This study employs bibliometric analysis of 61 SSCI-indexed articles (2014–2024) using CiteSpace to examine co-authorship networks, co-citation patterns, and research hotspots. Our findings demonstrate that individual-level factors (personality traits, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurship education) drive both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behavior. More importantly, environmental factors (university milieu, regional social legitimacy, and national cultural dimensions) moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and behavior. The study also identifies a temporal pattern in the entrepreneurial intention–behavior correlation. These results advance theoretical understanding of the intention–behavior transition and offer practical insights for entrepreneurship education and policy design. Full article

This study investigates how new R&D institutions mediate policy–market disjunctures to foster integrated innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Employing a longitudinal case analysis (2013–2023) of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), we delineate a three-phase evolutionary process: (1) an initial government-dominated phase, stimulating foundational capability development through contract R&D; (2) a subsequent marketization phase, enabling systemic resource integration via co-creation centers and global networks; and (3) a culminating synergy phase, where policy–market alignment facilitates ecosystem optimization through crowdsourced R&D and cross-domain collaboration. Three core mechanisms underpin this adaptation: policy–market coupling (providing external momentum), endogenous capability development (absorption to innovation), and dynamic resource orchestration (acquisition to optimization). JITRI’s hybrid governance model demonstrates that stage-contingent interventions—specifically, policy anchoring in early stages followed by market-responsive resource allocation—effectively transmute inherent tensions into productive synergies. These findings yield implementable frameworks for structuring innovative ecosystems and underscore the necessity for comparative studies to establish broader theoretical generalizability. Full article

This study investigates the interconnected roles of financial planning, environmental consciousness, and artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship among merchants in Machala, Ecuador. Through structural equation modeling analysis of data from 300 entrepreneurs, we found that financial planning positively influences both sustainable entrepreneurship (β = 0.508, p < 0.001) and environmental consciousness (β = 0.421, p < 0.001). Environmental consciousness demonstrates a significant impact on sustainable business development (β = 0.504, p < 0.001), while AI integration emerges as a powerful enabler of both financial planning (β = 0.345, p < 0.001) and sustainable entrepreneurship (β = 0.664, p < 0.001). The findings reveal how AI technologies can democratize access to sophisticated sustainability planning tools in resource-constrained environments, potentially transforming how emerging market entrepreneurs approach environmental challenges. This research advances our understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship by demonstrating that successful environmental business practices in developing economies require an integrated approach combining financial literacy, ecological awareness, and technological adoption. The results suggest that policy interventions supporting sustainable entrepreneurship should simultaneously address financial capabilities, environmental education, and technological accessibility to maximize their impact on sustainable development. Full article

Against the backdrop of evolving innovation and entrepreneurship education, this study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship in China. By analyzing 98 cases of student-led ventures and applying principal component analysis (PCA) via SPSS 19.0, the research identifies key determinants across individual, institutional, and societal dimensions. The empirical results reveal strong correlations between entrepreneurial risk levels and practical experience (r = 0.82), pre-market research (r = 0.84), participation in entrepreneurship courses (r = 0.72), university innovation platform utilization (r = 0.75), social financing intensity (r = 0.68), and regional economic development (r = 0.53). Individual-level factors demonstrate the most profound influence, with institutional and societal resources providing complementary support. Based on these findings, the study proposes targeted recommendations to enhance student engagement in practical training, optimize university–platform integration, and improve policy-backed financing ecosystems, thereby fostering the sustainable development of college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities. Full article

This study presents a comparative benchmarking analysis of G20 nations’ agri-food competitiveness across five critical pillars: food security and nutrition, trade and geopolitics, environmental sustainability, fiscal regimes, and entrepreneurship support. Using a structured benchmarking framework with 13 performance indicators sourced from internationally recognized datasets, the research delivers a comprehensive evaluation of national agri-food systems. The analysis reveals significant disparities in transparency, policy coherence, and investment in innovation across member states. Countries such as the United States, Germany, and Australia emerge as leaders, driven by integrated policy frameworks, trade surpluses, and sustainable production practices. Others fall behind due to import dependence, fragmented governance, or weak innovation ecosystems. Canada performs consistently in trade metrics but is hindered by high emissions intensity, infrastructure constraints, and a lack of a cohesive national food strategy. Theoretically, this work contributes to the emerging field of agri-food system diagnostics by operationalizing a cross-pillar benchmarking methodology applicable at the national level. Practically, it offers policymakers a decision-support tool for identifying structural gaps and setting reform priorities. The framework enables governments, trade partners, and multilateral institutions to design targeted interventions aimed at boosting food system resilience, economic competitiveness, and sustainability in an era of rising geopolitical and environmental volatility. Full article

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are vital drivers of economic growth in Kenya, yet they face persistent barriers, including limited capacity, financial exclusion, and weak market integration. This study assessed the potential of universities as strategic hubs for MSME capacity building through a collaborative initiative between Egerton University and the KCB Foundation. Using the International Labour Organization’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) methodology, 481 entrepreneurs from Egerton, Njoro, and Gilgil were trained in a business development bootcamp. This study evaluated the training effectiveness, participant demographics, confidence in skill application, networking outcomes, and satisfaction levels. The results showed high participant confidence (over 95% across all regions), strong financial management uptake (85%), and mobile banking adoption (70%). Gilgil led in inclusivity and peer engagement, while Njoro showed stronger gender representation. However, logistical challenges caused 25% absenteeism in rural areas, and only 23% accessed post-training mentorship. These findings underscore the transformative role of HEIs in fostering sustainable entrepreneurship through localized, inclusive, and industry-aligned training. Policy recommendations include hybrid delivery models, tiered curricula for diverse skill levels, and institutionalized mentorship through public–private partnerships. This case demonstrates the value of embedding entrepreneurship support within university mandates to advance national MSME development agendas. Full article

This study explores the influence of team communication (TC) and shared mental models (SMMs) on entrepreneurial team efficacy (ETE) within the context of Chinese higher education, introducing a dual-path model to reconcile the discrepancy between policy expectations and practical outcomes in entrepreneurship education. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from 475 university-based questionnaires from March to May in 2024 in China, the research reveals that structured internal communication significantly enhances the alignment of learning goals, teammate cognition, and activity synchronization, thereby fostering SMMs as a pivotal psychological infrastructure. The findings indicate that shared learning goals and cognitive convergence are primary drivers of task performance, whereas coordinated activity states are more influential in strengthening relational cohesion. The study challenges the conventional “communication frequency–efficacy paradox” by demonstrating distinct pathways through which internal and external communication mechanisms differentiated impact task and relational outcomes. Additionally, demographic analyses highlight that team maturity and age diversity positively correlate with task efficacy, while gender and disciplinary heterogeneity show no significant association. Theoretically, this research advances the understanding of team collaboration dynamics and contextualizes Western entrepreneurship theories within China’s collectivist framework. Practically, it provides robust, evidence-based strategies for refining communication protocols and enhancing both collaborative efficiency and innovation in entrepreneurial education settings. Full article

This research investigates the pivotal role of women’s entrepreneurship in urban Ireland. Utilizing a demand–constraint–choice framework for analysis, it explores the diverse motivations behind Irish women’s entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the impact of time- and place-specific factors. The study also assesses gender equality and disparities. This qualitative research presents a comparative analysis of motivations, perceptions, and experiences conducted through semi-structured interviews in Ireland’s diverse cultural and economic contexts. The findings highlight the influence of cultural factors on women’s entrepreneurial choices and the significance of government support systems. They underscore the necessity of proactive government intervention for gender-inclusive economic development, offering insights applicable beyond Ireland. Valuable for policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs, the findings enhance understanding of women’s entrepreneurial leadership, contributing to global strategies for empowering women in entrepreneurship. Several policy recommendations are provided. Full article

The purpose of this review is to synthesise the accumulated knowledge on Global Innovation Index (GII) research. We utilised a corpus from the Web of Science Core Collection to systematically examine the antecedents, consequences, and relationships among the GII’s dimensions. Additionally, we employed the bibliometric techniques of bibliographic coupling and co-citation analysis to identify the leading areas of GII research and the foundational literature in this field. Our systematic review of GII empirical research allowed us to graphically represent the significant relationships among its dimensions. The findings from the bibliographic coupling revealed five recent lines of investigation in GII research: configurational methods; innovation efficiency and policy; competitiveness, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development; innovation rankings; and culture. Furthermore, the co-citation analysis highlighted four clusters of literature that have contributed to GII research. We aim to enhance the field of Innovation Studies by showcasing the current state of research on the GII, one of the most promising tools for measuring innovation activity, and to provide insights into potential future research avenues to further develop this area of study. Full article

This study investigated the key determinants of entrepreneurship in Ambato, Ecuador, through the application of predictive statistical models. The primary objective was to identify critical variables that influence the success and sustainability of entrepreneurial ventures in the region. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing multivariate statistical techniques, including decision trees, random forest, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Data were collected through structured surveys administered to local entrepreneurs, addressing variables including demographics, education, initial investment, and business operations. The analysis revealed that factors such as geographic location, the entrepreneur’s educational attainment, business tenure, and operational characteristics have a significant influence on entrepreneurial viability. On the basis of these findings, the study proposes a predictive model to assist both policymakers and entrepreneurs in evaluating and enhancing business development strategies. The insights gained offer practical implications: entrepreneurs can refine their strategies for greater effectiveness, while local authorities can craft supportive policies, such as training programs and improved access to financing. The study highlights the importance of entrepreneurship education and targeted support for underdeveloped areas, thereby contributing to broader economic inclusion and enhanced employment opportunities in the region. Full article

Community enterprises play an essential role in advancing sustainable development; however, limited strategic frameworks impede their ability to integrate economic, social, and environmental objectives effectively. This study explores the strategic roles undertaken by community enterprise entrepreneurs to address this gap. Adopting a mixed-methods design, this research integrates qualitative data from in-depth interviews and participatory observations with quantitative analysis based on 215 standardized survey responses. The findings reveal consistent emphasis on five critical strategic roles: vision and goal-setting, resource management, networking and collaboration, innovation leadership, and strategic leadership, with mean ratings between 4.45 and 4.54 on a five-point Likert scale. Qualitative insights further illuminate how entrepreneurs leverage these strategies to optimize resources, foster cross-sector partnerships, drive innovation, and strengthen organizational resilience. Policy recommendations include enhancing infrastructure, developing entrepreneurial capacity, and promoting multi-sectoral ecosystems to support community enterprises. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse by proposing a five-dimensional strategic entrepreneurship model for sustainable community development, offering practical guidelines for policymakers and entrepreneurs seeking to foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable local economies. Full article

This study reviews various academic discussions utilising distinct interpretations of entrepreneurship and resilience. The inadequacies of contemporary literature are explored and avenues for subsequent studies are offered in light of these discussions. Notable shifts in literature across themes, eras, and contexts have been documented. The body of literature has been steadily expanding over time, with a significant portion of research included in this SLR published from 2010 to 2024, which was not considered in earlier SLRs. A methodical, multidisciplinary evaluation of 44 publications divided into multiple academic dialogues was conducted to lay the groundwork for critical examination of each field of study. Resilience in the modern era encompasses not only the power to bounce back from stressful situations and adjust to a changed environment but also the dynamic process to improve learning capacity and foster personal development through continuous self-improvement, the acquisition of novel experiences and a forward-leaping framework. These findings contribute to the clarification and critical analysis of the current state of entrepreneurial resilience which will have several policies implications. Full article