Entrepreneurial universities as a value chain: a multiple case study of higher education strategies for entrepreneurship in China

Following accelerated growth in the past few decades, China has bet on mass entrepreneurship in universities as a way to create new jobs and modernise its economy. This study aims to present the concrete actions of leading Chinese universities in fostering entrepreneurship. The study presents the results of 27 in-depth interviews conducted in Chinese entrepreneurship ecosystems, building a multiple case study on Tsinghua and Jiao Tong Universities. The main conclusions, framed by Vaz and Nijkamp's model, depict integration of different economic levels: 1) a macroeconomic infrastructure for innovation that permeates Chinese ecosystems; 2) universities organised as a value chain to stimulate their students from the idea stage to IPO; 3) new dynamics for training students in entrepreneurship and innovation through modern educational approaches. From an academic standpoint, the study contributes by offering variety to the research on entrepreneurial universities and regional development, showing new strategies within the Chinese socio-economic conditions.