Fatores críticos de sucesso da educação inovadora e empreendedora no contexto dos ecossistemas de inovação - estudo de caso do estado do Paraná

Abstract

In light of the growing recognition of innovation as a driver of socioeconomic development, governments have been investing in the formulation of Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) policies and in the structuring of innovation ecosystems. These ecosystems are based on the interaction among different institutions within a territory, bringing together government, the productive sector, higher education institutions, and the community. In this scenario, education plays a strategic role in developing talents capable of acting in the era of Digital Transformation, marked by Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0. Considering this context, the objective of this research was to determine the critical success factors (CSFs) of innovative and entrepreneurial education in the context of innovation ecosystems. The relevance of the study lies both in the theoretical field, by proposing an integrative model between the domains of education and innovation, and in the practical field, by offering support for the formulation of public policies and educational practices aimed at regional innovation. The research, with a qualitative approach, adopted the single case study method, with the state of Paraná as its empirical field. The methodological steps included: (a) systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis; (b) documentary analysis of the guidelines of the Centelha/PR Program; (c) application of questionnaires and conduction of semi-structured interviews for the collection of primary data from entrepreneurs responsible for startups in Paraná that were selected in the funding calls of the Centelha Program (2020 and 2022 editions); (d) construction of a conceptual framework; and (e) empirical validation through interviews and questionnaires conducted with entrepreneurs from the Centelha Program. As a result, thirteen CSFs of innovative and entrepreneurial education in the context of innovation ecosystems were identified, distributed across three structuring axes: 1 – Formative Development; 2 – Structural Conditions; and 3 – Strategic Partnerships. These CSFs were validated by the research results, proving consistent with theoretical and empirical data and confirming their relevance in education, both for the training of innovative talents and for the consolidation of innovation ecosystems. Thus, this research contributes to the advancement of interdisciplinary knowledge, integrating the fields of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship in an empirically validated conceptual model, which can support the strengthening and consolidation of innovative ecosystems. It also provides inputs to substantiate the formulation of aligned education and ST&I policies, encourages pedagogical methods that foster creativity and autonomy, and proposes training strategies directed at innovative entrepreneurship.