Journal of Economic Literature
Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship
2026-02-26
Innovation-driven entrepreneurship (IDE) is viewed as a key driver of economic growth. This review provides a structured guide to the key themes of the growing literature on the economics of IDE, which differs substantially in its nature from other types of entrepreneurship. We describe the key themes of the growing literature, speaking to the central economic questions raised by IDE, including who enters into IDE activity, the nature of its founding teams and organization, its financing, the strategic choices faced by IDE founders, and policy and programs to support IDE activity. The tendency of much of the empirical economics literature to date to confound IDE with other types of entrepreneurial ventures offers a significant opportunity for research focused specifically on the IDE phenomenon. ( JEL G24, G32, J23, J24, L26, M13, O31)