Entrepreneurship Ecosystems and Innovation Hubs in East Africa Contextualized within Mauritius

Entrepreneurship ecosystems and innovation hubs have emerged as critical drivers of economic growth in various regions globally. This study focuses on their development within East Africa, with a specific focus on Mauritius. This study employs a qualitative approach to gather insights from existing literature and expert interviews. It aims to provide an overview of current initiatives and challenges faced by entrepreneurship ecosystems in Mauritius. The analysis reveals that while Mauritius has established several innovation hubs, there is a notable disparity in the number and quality of such hubs across different regions, with urban areas showing higher concentrations compared to rural areas. This study underscores the importance of regional disparities in entrepreneurship ecosystem development. It suggests targeted policies to enhance hub accessibility in underserved regions for broader economic benefits. To address the identified challenges, recommendations include increasing funding for rural innovation hubs and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors to drive sustainable growth.