This paper analyses the role of universities as orchestrators of the development of a regional ecosystem that is conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. We argue that universities in emerging economies, due to many social challenges, must go beyond their missions of teaching, research, and collaboration with industry for innovation. We present a unique case study of an alliance of three universities in Porto Alegre, Brazil that, in addition to being competitors in the above-mentioned missions, are orchestrating a network of stakeholders in this region to develop an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. We demonstrate that universities perform several orchestration processes that are consistent with the literature, such as fostering knowledge mobility, managing innovation appropriability, and increasing network stability. Furthermore, we found differences in how innovation ecosystems are orchestrated as compared to firm networks. In the case of innovation ecosystems, appropriability reaches the broader region, and the benefits are not limited to participant stakeholders. Such orchestration processes emerge when universities take on leadership positions in the region; they can influence the beginning of collective actions and projects as well as transfer responsibility, delegating power to other actors in the network.

中文翻译：

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大学作为新兴经济体区域创新生态系统发展的协调者

本文分析了大学作为有利于创新和创业的区域生态系统发展的协调者的作用。我们认为，由于许多社会挑战，新兴经济体的大学必须超越其教学、研究和与行业合作进行创新的使命。我们展示了巴西阿雷格里港三所大学联盟的独特案例研究，该联盟除了作为上述任务的竞争对手外，还在该地区协调利益相关者网络，以发展创新和创业生态系统。我们证明了大学执行了几个与文献一致的编排过程，例如促进知识流动、管理创新可支配性和提高网络稳定性。此外，我们发现与企业网络相比，创新生态系统的编排方式存在差异。在创新生态系统的情况下，专有性可以覆盖更广泛的区域，而且收益不仅限于参与者利益相关者。当大学在该地区担任领导职务时，就会出现这种协调过程；他们可以影响集体行动和项目的开始以及转移责任，将权力下放给网络中的其他参与者。