Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Support for a Low-tech Food Sector Case Study

Abstract This study examines the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem supporting food and drink SME s in Wales in the context of post-Brexit, COVID-19 and wider geopolitical disruptions. Because SME s make up 92% of Welsh food enterprises, effective innovation support is crucial. While existing research emphasises university-led triple-helix contributions to innovation, this study broadens the lens to assess the wider configuration of support actors and networks. Using an inductive mixed-methods design, including a questionnaire of 163 firms (35 responses) and nine follow-up interviews, the analysis identifies core support needs in the technical, organisational, food-safety, and training domains, with secondary demand for food science, sustainability, and packaging. The findings reveal fragmented support pathways, bureaucratic barriers, and coordination gaps, particularly affecting mid-size firms and those needing regulatory or operational guidance. While triple-helix interventions were beneficial, broader ecosystem support lacked cohesion and scalability, underscoring the need for integrated policy frameworks and improved system orchestration.