Theoretical and Practical Models for Analysing a Country’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem as a Measure of Innovation Capacity

The study presented in this article is based on the premise that innovation is the foundation of economic growth in today’s economic and social landscape, a necessity that becomes even more evident during times of crisis. The objective is to investigate the connections between innovation and a country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, resulting from the interaction among stakeholders, resources, and institutions. Exploratory research is used to analyse key points in the specialized literature relevant to the topic outlined in the title, as well as descriptive-analytical quantitative research based on secondary sources provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI). Within this framework, dimensions and pillars characteristic of Romania are illustrated. Subsequently, following the presentation of comparative analyses using EU countries as examples, directions for improving the Romanian entrepreneurial ecosystem are highlighted by focusing actions on the lines of effort provided by the GEI model.