Start-ups and Start-up Ecosystems: Theories, Models and Case Studies in the Mediterranean Area

Domenico Nicolò is Professor of Economia Aziendale (Business Economics) and Head of Degree in Economics at University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria. Director and Scientific Coordinator of ReTMES – Research Lab for Mediterranean Entrepreneurship and Startups – at University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Natale Ferrara is 2^nd level Degree Student in Business Economics and Management at University of Messina, Italy.

Bettina Lynda Bastian is Assistant Professor of Management at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She obtained her PhD in Management from the College of Management at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Prior to this, she received a

Master degree in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin. Before going back for her PhD, she obtained a postgraduate Master in Energy from the EPFL and the Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP), Paris. Dr. Bastian’s primary area of interest is in Technological Change and how environmental challenges, such as biophysical constraints, as well as, political and social risk influence innovation strategies of firms. She is also studying Entrepreneurship under uncertainty conditions, notably, political and institutional instabilities. Dr. Bastian teaches in the areas of Corporate Strategy, Management, and she is currently responsible for the Business Ethics courses at AUB.

Irina-Eugenia Iamandi is PhD Associate Professor in the Faculty of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), Romania. Her main research interests are in Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Ethics and International Management. She is author of three books in the field of corporate social responsibility in international business and author or co-author of more than 50 research papers on related topics published in international journals and/or presented in scientific conferences.

Laura-Gabriela Constantin holds a PhD in International Business and Economics and she is currently Assistant Professor in the Faculty of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), Romania. Within the CSR field, her research interest focuses on corporate governance from the perspective of social responsibility. Her main field of expertise is financial risk management.

Sebastian Mădălin Munteanu is PhD Assistant in the Faculty of Management, Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE), Romania. He has research interests in Sport Management and Economics, Investment and Quality Management, Economic and Social Efficiency. He is author and co-author of scientific papers, including one book and more than 20 articles.

Giovanni Battista Dagnino is Professor in the Department of Economics and Business of the University of Catania, Italy, where he is Coordinator of the PhD Program in Economics and Management and Academic Director of GRIM-Group of Research on Insurance and Banking Economics and Management. He is also faculty member of the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management and Fellow of the Strategic Planning Society.

His current research interests revolve around the development of the strategic theory of the firm with specific focus on coopetition strategy dynamics, the role of anchor firms and networks in regional innovation and development especially as concerns high tech and rapidly changing environments, and the relationships between strategy, governance and entrepreneurship. He has authored/edited ten books and several articles in leading management journals.

Marcantonio Ruisi is Full Professor of Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship; he is Coordinator B.A. and M.A. Degree Courses in Business Administration at the Department of Economics, Management and Statistics - University of Palermo; he is president of EBEN Italy; he is general secretariat SISTUR (Società Italiana di Scienze del Turismo); he is Editor of a book series: Quaderni di Ricerca Economico-Aziendale: Teoria e Casi (Aracne Editrice, Rome).

Jordi Mas teaches Innovation and Entrepreneurship at TecnoCampus Mataró (Barcelona, Spain) and is a member of the Competitiveness and Innovation Research Group. He has adapted lean start-up and design thinking methodologies to the audiovisual business sector. He is also a management consultant for private and public organizations in the fields of creativity and innovation.

Carlo Vermiglio is a Researcher of Economia Aziendale (Business Economics) at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy

Domenico Nicolò is Prof. of Economia Aziendale (Business Economics) at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria. Director and Scientific Coordinator of ReTMES – Research Lab for Mediterranean Entrepreneurship and Startups – Italy

Alberto Fio is 2^nd level Degree Student in Business Economics and Management at University of Messina

Giuseppe Valenza Phd Student in Law and Economic Studies at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy

Luca Anselmi is Full Professor of Business Economics (Economia Aziendale) at University of Pisa (Italy) and NSPA – National School of Public Administration (SNA – Scuola Nazionale dell’Amministrazione). Author of many books and papers on Local Governments, Public Administration, and Healthcare Management.

Peter Vogel is Assistant Professor of Technology Entrepreneurship and Head of Competence Center New Ventures, University of St. Gallen. His main focuses are in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, Technology Management, Medical Technology, Arbeitsmarkt, Social Entrepreneurship.

Stefano Baruffaldi is a Young Economist at the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Stefano has received a PhD in Management of Technology from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) under the supervision of Professor Dominique Foray and a Master’s degree In Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. His research interests are in the area of geography of innovation with particular focus on the diffusion of technological knowledge, the effects of inter-regional integration on innovative productivity, and the international mobility of highly skilled workers.

Bettina Lynda Bastian is Assistant Professor of Management at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She obtained her PhD in Management from the College of Management at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Prior to this, she received a

Master degree in Political Science from the Free University of Berlin. Before going back for her PhD, she obtained a postgraduate Master in Energy from the EPFL and the Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP), Paris. Dr. Bastian’s primary area of interest is in Technological Change and how environmental challenges, such as biophysical constraints, as well as, political and social risk influence innovation strategies of firms. She is also studying Entrepreneurship under uncertainty conditions, notably, political and institutional instabilities. Dr. Bastian teaches in the areas of Corporate Strategy, Management, and she is currently responsible for the Business Ethics courses at AUB.

Yasser Akkaoui is the publisher of Executive Magazine, and CEO of Capital Concept, a company he founded in 2005, which advises organizations and regulators in the Middle East on Corporate Governance and Management topics.

Antonio Del Pozzo is Full Professor of Economia Aziendale (Business Economics) at University of Messina, where he teaches ‘Financial Risk Management’ and ‘Financial Accounting’.

His research interest focuses on Financial Risk Management, Financial Innovation and International Financial Standards. He is author and/or co-author of seven books and several articles published in national and international journals and/or presented in scientific conferences. He is a business consultant.

Salvatore Loprevite is Associate Professor of Economia Aziendale (Business Economics) at University ‘Dante Alighieri’ of Reggio Calabria, where he teaches ‘Business Economics’ and ‘Management and accounting of public and non-profit organizations’.

His research interest focuses on International Financial Standards, Financial Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility. He is author and/or co-author of three books and more than 20 articles published in national and international journals and/or presented in scientific conferences. He is a business consultant.