Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem

: factor analysis of Abu Dhabi’s attempt to promote an innovation, knowledge-based economy

Abstract

This thesis examines the factors shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems, comparing Silicon Valley and Abu Dhabi. While Silicon Valley benefits from an established innovation culture, Abu Dhabi is a rapidly developing ecosystem, driven by its aim to transition from an oil to a knowledge-based economy. Despite significant investment and government support, Abu Dhabi faces challenges including risk aversion, a preference for public sector jobs, and talent shortages. Using a mixed methods approach with expert interviews and a literature review, this study identifies gaps in Abu Dhabi’s innovation framework. It recommends enhancing ecosystem efficiency by promoting a risk-taking culture, better-integrating universities, and supporting B2B cooperation to elevate Abu Dhabi as a global innovation leader.

Date of Award	28 Jun 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter Rajsingh (Supervisor)