Purpose: This study assesses the effects of junior enterprises (JEs) on the entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions of engineering higher education students, compared to a group of social sciences students. Design/methodology/approach: This research analyses a sample of 132 students enrolled in engineering higher education courses in Portugal and Brazil, while 83 of the respondents being involved in a JE and 49 not. The authors compare this group to another group of 176 social sciences students from several higher education courses, while 93 being enrolled in JE and 83 not. Findings: The results show that students enrolled in JEs show higher levels of entrepreneurial intention (EI), as well as their antecedents such as attitude towards the behaviour (ATB), perceived behavioural control (PBC) and social norms (SN) , and the impact of this extracurricular activity is higher on engineering students than on social sciences students. Also, country and gender differences were found in some variables. Research limitations/implications: Further studies are needed to confirm the results in a broader population and in other countries. Also, the study addressed attitudes and intentions but not actual behaviour due to the time lag problem. There is also the risk of self-reported bias on the answers due to social desirability bias, for example. Finally, because JEs have their own recruitment process, there is a possible “self-selection problem” of students who might have previously developed some of entrepreneurial attitudes and skills assessed by the questionnaire. Practical implications: The results have important implications for engineering higher education institutions. Despite many of them provide entrepreneurship training courses, they should also encourage students to join extracurricular activities or even create their own at their institution to complement their skills' development. Also, teachers should be encouraged to integrate these activities into their subjects, avoiding a major barrier to the participation in extracurricular activities which is the students' time constraints. Finally, participation in extracurricular activities can be promoted by institutions in many ways, such as allowing students to obtain academic credits or through supporting financially or logistically the organisations that promote these activities. Social implications: This study contributes to the discussion on how to promote the development of entrepreneurial competences in young people that soon will enter the labour market. Originality/value: This study contributes to the discussions on the value of extracurricular activities, such as the enrolment in JEs, to the development of entrepreneurial attitudes and intention on the training of the next generation of engineers capable of facing future worlds' challenges.

In the complex context of the current social and economic challenges worsened by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion on ‘a future for all places’ has gained momentum. Nonetheless, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the specific challenges and opportunities of less populated, peripheral, and economically backward territories. Using STEEP (social, technological, economic, environmental and political) as underpinning framework and a qualitative case-study approach, this study focuses on the pandemic’s impact on Low-Density Territories (LDTs), often overlooked in research. By gathering insights from three case studies through in-depth interviews with regional stakeholders and field experts, secondary data and policy practices, this study pinpoints development opportunities created or accelerated by the pandemic, namely new working trends, digitalisation and technology adoption, cooperation and innovation, and new perceptions about the importance of LDTs. The findings stress the importance of adapting planning and regional development research and strategies to a post-pandemic scenario to seize the opportunities identified and break spatial inequalities affecting these territories. Besides, by applying a place-based approach it provides important implications for policy-makers, highlighting several recommendations and examples of local policy answers that other LDTs can adapt to in a post-pandemic reality.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the distinctive features of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) in low-density territories (LDTs) and propose an innovative EE framework tailored to these specific contexts. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve our objective, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 51 relevant research papers that shed light on the characteristics of EEs in LDTs. By critically examining existing EE theoretical frameworks, we assess their applicability to the distinct features of LDTs. Findings: The study highlights both the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in LDTs, emphasizing the importance of local leadership, long-term strategic vision, collaborative approaches, sustainability and open boundaries with external ecosystems. We demonstrate that successful EEs in LDTs require customized strategies that reflect the region’s specific cultural, social and economic dynamics, as well as the integration of natural capital. Research limitations/implications: The variability among LDTs may limit the generalizability of our framework. Additionally, we focused exclusively on peer-reviewed articles, excluding other sources such as books and conference papers, which could offer complementary perspectives. Practical implications: Developing resilient EEs in LDTs can serve as a catalyst for both economic and social growth in these regions. Our framework provides policymakers with practical tools to empower local entrepreneurs, stimulate economic activity and promote sustainable development in their regions. Originality/value: This research makes a pioneering contribution by offering a tailored EE framework for LDTs, addressing gaps in the existing urban-centric models. Our findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and a foundation for future research in rural entrepreneurship.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) concept has been getting attention as a comprehensive approach to studying the evolution of a local economy, and it is increasingly adopted by policymakers to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and foster local socio-economic development. This study represents an original attempt to understand the EE governance evolution and to contribute to the research on underdeveloped places, such as low-density territories. Evidence is taken from the EE of Fundão, a low-density municipality in the Centro region of Portugal, between 2012 and 2022. The primary and secondary data collected was analysed in the light of evolutionary governance theory and recent literature on evolutionary EEs. The findings highlight the significant role local government plays in the creation and development of the EE, by addressing the gaps in governance and resources within low-density territories, and performing multiple roles during the EE evolution. Moreover, several EE governance strategies were identified to tackle local obstacles including community acceptance, lack of entrepreneurial culture, or resource limitations. This work provides important contributions to EE and regional development literature, as well as implications for local and regional policymakers aiming to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in their territories.