What is EE

The entrepreneurial ecosystem literature paid little attention to policies' effects on the evolution of the regional ecosystem. Scholars underlined the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and how different actors affect its dynamics. However, no study focused on the dynamic role and different types of policies in an entrepreneurial ecosystem that evolves or changes. This chapter aims to fill this gap by highlighting the policy directions in addressing regional entrepreneurial ecosystem development. The author presents the results of the thematic content analysis exploring the regional operational programme of three Italian regions - Lombardy, Campania, and Calabria - representative of different development levels. Taking evidence from the analysis, implementing a specific policy direction indicates the entrepreneurial ecosystem stage covered by each region. Results highlight measures employed at different stages of the entrepreneurial ecosystem - nascent, strengthening, and resilient - and identify three policy directions: recovery, reinforcing, and shooting.