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TRACK 23: VALUE CREATION THROUGH STARTUPS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMS

Track Chairs
Mauro Romano, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”
Antonio Corvino, University of Foggia
Esin Yoruk, Coventry University
Marika Intenza, University of Pisa
Erika Branca, University of Ghent

Track Description
This track calls for contributions exploring how startups and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs) drive sustainable value creation through innovation, collaboration, and strategic growth. In a context shaped by geopolitical uncertainties, ecological transitions, social expectations, and technological shifts, entrepreneurial initiatives and ecosystem actors are increasingly demanded to develop business models and practices to balance financial performance with social and environmental impacts.
The track encourages studies investigating how EEs and startups enable responsible innovation, resilience, and long-term competitiveness across industries and regions. Theoretical, empirical, and interdisciplinary contributions delving into the interplay between entrepreneurship, ecosystem dynamics, sustainability, and value creation are particularly welcome.
Potential topics (not limited to):

  • EEs as enablers of innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness;
  • Business Model Innovation for sustainable and responsible value creation;
  • Startups and new ventures as drivers of sustainable transition;
  • Ecosystem dynamics and collaborative networks for long-term value creation;
  • Stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships within EEs;
  • The role of universities, incubators, and accelerators in fostering sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship;
  • Entrepreneurial finance and investment supporting startup growth and sustainable innovation;
  • Digital transformation and technological innovation in EEs;
  • Regional and global perspectives on sustainable entrepreneurial development.

Keywords
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems; Startups; Value Creation; Business Model; Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Multi-Stakeholder Networks

Publication Opportunities
The articles accepted in this track may be considered for publication in Azienda Pubblica or MECOSAN through a fast-track procedure or inclusion in a special issue, depending on the number of accepted contributions.

References
Allain, J., Crane, A., LeBaron, G., & Behbahani, L. (2013). Forced Labour’s Business Models and Supply Chains. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Brown, D., Boyd, D. S., Brickell, K., Ives, C. D., Natarajan, N., & Parsons, L. (2019). Modern slavery, environmental degradation and climate change: Fisheries, field, forests and factories. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 4(2), 191-207.
Caruana, R., Crane, A. & Ingram, C. (2024). The Boundaries of Modern Slavery: the Role of Exemplars in New Category Formation. Academy of Management Journal.
Crane, A., LeBaron, G., Allain, J., & Behbahabi, L. (2019). Governance gaps in eradicating forced labour: From global to domestic supply chains. Regulation and Governance, 13(1), 86–106.
Fiandrino, S. (2023). La sostenibilità aziendale in ottica sistemica-relazionale. Evoluzione concettuale e analisi di casi aziendali (Vol. 24, pp. 1-208). Giappichelli Editore.
Hubers, F., & Thijssens, T. (2023). Protect, respect, remedy, and report? Development of human rights reporting in the context of formal institutional settings. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 30(6), 2783–2798.
LeBaron, G. (2021). The Role of Supply Chains in the Global Business of Forced Labour. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 57(2), 29-42.
Raimo, N., Fraccalvieri, I., Vitolla, F., & Bussoli, C. (2025). Breaking the Silence: Human Rights Disclosure in European Banks. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, forthcoming.
Rogerson, M., Scarpa, F., & Snelson-Powell, A. (2024). Accounting for human rights: Evidence of due diligence in EU-listed firms’ reporting. Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 99, 102716.
Sassen, S. (2016). Expulsions: Brutality and Complexity in the Global Economy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Sparks, D., Boyd, D.S., Jackson, B., Ives, C.D., & Bales, K. (2021) Growing evidence of the interconnections between modern slavery, environmental degradation, and climate change. One Earth, 4(2), 181-191.
Strand, V., Lotfi, M., Flynn, A., & Walker, H. (2024) A systematic literature review of modern slavery in supply chain management: State of the art, framework development and research opportunities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 435, 140301.
Torelli, R. (2021). Sustainability, responsibility and ethics: Different concepts for a single path. Social Responsibility Journal, 17(5), 719–739.
Torelli, R., Fiandrino, S., & Scarpa, F. (2025). Value-enhancing drivers of corporate governance in improving human rights due diligence: Worldwide evidence. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 32(1), 1279–1290.