No 2021/8 Resilience after a large firm's closure

the role of place leadership, local resources, and social capital in the transformation of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Abstract

Studies have argued for the pivotal role of large firms in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE). The sudden closure of large firms can be expected to have a substantial negative impact on an EE. This paper investigates the resilience of an EE in the aftermath of a large firm exit in the Lund region. A qualitative case study shows how agency and resources turned the local EE into a dynamic center for Life Sciences. Factors that contributed to the resilience of the EE in Lund were entrepreneurial place leadership, local resources, and social capital. The study provides a framework to understand the transformation of an EE after a crisis.