Sub-ecosystem coupling in Sherbrooke’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: a network perspective

This study enriches entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) theorisation by integrating complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory with social network analysis (SNA) to address a key gap: the conceptual and empirical understanding of entrepreneurial sub-ecosystems and their relational dynamics. Focusing on the Sherbrooke EE in Canada, the study identifies three main sub-ecosystems: academic, business and entrepreneurial support. SNA highlights the centrality of the University of Sherbrooke, the pivotal brokerage role of the entrepreneurial support sub-ecosystem and differentiated degrees of external openness. These findings clarify how anchoring, intermediation, and openness structure EE dynamics and offer actionable insights for policymakers and ecosystem stakeholders.