Entrepreneurship and ICT Industries: Support from Regional and Local Policies

Many national, regional or local policies have been developed to support entrepreneurship both generally and in specific industries related to information and communication technology (ICT). Five perspectives on the meaning of entrepreneurship are considered, as: a function in the economy (with a three-stage model); a new business start-up; an owner-manager of a small business; a set of personal characteristics; and, a form of behaviour. These perspectives have differing implications for policies to promote entrepreneurship. These policies include: predominantly macro-level policies such as economic stability, taxation and regulations; micro-level policies focusing upon advice, training, finance, technology transfer, markets access, physical infrastructure and the characteristics of the locality; and creating an entrepreneurial culture.