A partnership governance for the support structures and entrepreneurial dynamics of the territory
The support structures for the creation of innovative firms have been created in the framework of a politic initiative for the economic development of a territory. To fullfill their support mission, they involve different actors, public and private, solicited in a collective process based on governance. By mobilizing stakeholder theory, we define the boundaries of a partnership governance for the support structures and we discuss their contribution to the entrepreneuship dynamics of the territory. Based on a study of 17 support structures and interviews with 52 stakeholders involved in the support process, this research highlights the emergence of a partnership governance which integrate the expectations of various stakeholders, taking part in the academic work on the overall performance of incubators. It discusses the impact of this form of governance on the territorial dynamics and the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems.