ESMEE – Enabling Societal Missions through Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

ESMEE – Enabling Societal Missions through Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Research Output

Publications

Agrifood, sustainability and entrepreneurial ecosystems: the case of Aarhus-Midtjylland

The Aarhus-Midtjylland agrifood ecosystem showcases how entrepreneurial ecosystems can drive sustainable innovation and create economic and societal value. Embedded in Denmark’s high-trust society and culture which are also visible in other domains and sectors, the ecosystem thrives on collaboration, strong institutions, and a clear green transition agenda.

At its core is the Agro Food Park (AFP), hosting 105 companies, including Arla Foods Innovation Centre, SEGES Innovation, start-ups, and Aarhus University’s Food Science department. The AFP acts as a hub for open, cross-sectoral innovation, while the broader ecosystem also includes other important agrifood actors. Aarhus University (AU) further strengthens the system through research, talent development, and interdisciplinary centers like CiFOOD and Plant2Food.

Two recent initiatives provide direction and institutional support for sustainable agrifood entrepreneurship. The 2024 Green TriPartite Agreement between the Danish government, farmers and agrifood, and environmental groups aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.8 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent by 2030, partly by converting 15% of arable land to forests. The 2022 AgriFoodTure public-private partnership, initiated by 300 researchers and endorsed by the government, serves as a national platform for Denmark’s green transition in agrifood.

The ecosystem excels in policy support, infrastructure, talent, and leadership, with distributed roles among AFP, Arla, SEGES, AU, AgriFoodTure, and regional authorities.

Lessons for other regions:

  1. Science-business parks like AFP foster trust and collaboration, accelerating sustainable agriculture.
  2. Clear direction prevents backlash by aligning innovators, consumers, and businesses—Danish sustainability and culinary leadership exemplifies this.
  3. Support services, such as incubators and intermediaries like the Food and Bio Cluster Denmark, connect policy and regional action.
  4. A strong knowledge base attracts expertise; thematic focus enhances impact.
  5. Distributed leadership, rooted in trust and long-term vision, is essential—Danish foundation ownership rooted in a longstanding cooperative culture enables private-sector leadership on societal challenges.

Aarhus-Midtjylland’s success highlights the power of an integrated ecosystem, adaptive governance, and a shared ambition in advancing sustainable entrepreneurship.

Source: Agrifood, sustainability and entrepreneurial ecosystems: the case of Aarhus-Midtjylland

The entrepreneurial ecosystem clock keeps on ticking–A replication and extension of Coad and Srhoj (2023)

van Dijk, J., Leendertse, J., Stam, E., & van Rijnsoever, F. (2025). The entrepreneurial ecosystem clock keeps on ticking–A replication and extension of Coad and Srhoj (2023). Research Policy, 54(2), 105154.

Greening pastures: Ecosystems for sustainable entrepreneurship

Leendertse, J., & van Rijnsoever, F. (2025). Greening pastures: Ecosystems for sustainable entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 1–22.

Ecosystems cast a shadow: How high-quality entrepreneurial ecosystems hamper productive entrepreneurship in neighboring regions

Leendertse, J., van Rijnsoever, F., & Oostveen, B. (2025). Ecosystems cast a shadow: How high-quality entrepreneurial ecosystems hamper productive entrepreneurship in neighboring regions. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 23, e00533.