The impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on innovation:

This study aimed to analyse the impact of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on innovation in Brazilian municipalities. To this end, data from the Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (SEBRAE) were collected, and the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) technique and spatial regression models were applied. The results indicate that consumption potential, credit potential, and entrepreneurial education had the greatest impact on raising the innovation index, including the spatial effect of innovation. Furthermore, it was observed that the Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDPpc) showed a non-linear U-shaped relationship with innovation, with a positive impact from a GDPpc value of R$40 048.54. Business conditions also displayed a non-linear U-shaped relationship with innovation, with a positive impact from a business conditions index of 0.44. It is therefore concluded that innovation is influenced heterogeneously by elements of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and by spatial factors in Brazilian municipalities.