Exploring How the University Ecosystem Can Mobilise Resources for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurial Firms in Sweden

Abstract

Social innovation and entrepreneurship are argued to be crucial for enabling inclusive and sustainable transformation. However, we know less about how universities can enable social innovation and entrepreneurship amongst students and employees. This article explores one specific channel for university impact - supporting knowledge-intensive entrepreneurs (KIE) in delivering social innovation as services. We conduct a theoretically informed case study at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, analysing one firm started by alumni and one firm started by employed researchers. We propose a conceptual framework, explicating how social KIE entrepreneurs mobilise resources from the university in knowledge-intensive services of social impact.