Economic Development through Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Observations from the Turkish Case

The concept of the entrepreneurship ecosystem (EE) has emerged as a systemic framework linking entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional economic growth. This paper examines the role of EEs in fostering economic development, with particular emphasis on the Turkish case. Drawing on international reports and secondary data, the study analyzes Türkiye’s entrepreneurial environment across seven key dimensions: formal institutions, entrepreneurial culture, physical infrastructure, finance, knowledge creation, human capital, and networks and collaboration. Findings reveal that while Türkiye benefits from its large domestic market, dynamic urban centers, and emerging technology subsectors but its ecosystem remains constrained by weak institutional inefficiencies, limited innovation capacity, and insufficient human capital. The paper concludes that building a resilient EE in Türkiye requires strategic investment in talent and technology, strengthened collaboration between public and private sectors, and reforms that enhance transparency, education quality, and institutional trust. These measures are essential for leveraging entrepreneurship as a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.