Gründungsforschung: Relevanz des Raumes und Aufgaben der Wirtschaftsgeographie

Start-ups are one of the most relevant current subjects in wide sections of academia, business and, in particular, in politics. This is due to many factors, some of which relate to new technological developments and their economic implications, to a general structural change and to the increasing importance, despite globalisation, of very small enterprises. This paper sets forth arguments sustaining the thesis that the determinants for the establishment of start-ups are not neutral in spatial terms. Rather, spatial differentiation can be identified, systematised and, in principle, quantified with regard to the causes as well as the economic effects of start-ups. Economic geography in particular as an academic discipline is confronted with numerous new research tasks in the areas of theory, empirical research and policy. Economic geography has comparative strengths over other disciplines who also explore start-ups, which should be emphasised more emphatically and with more self-confidence than to date.