Policy Approaches and Entrepreneurial Responses in Strategic Industries: Comparing Innovation Ecosystems in China and the United States

Abstract

This thesis investigates how government policy approaches shape regional entrepreneurial ecosystems and influence entrepreneurial strategy in strategic industries across China and the United States. Through comparative analysis of four region-industry pairs—Shanghai's semiconductor sector, Shenzhen's drone technology sector, Boston's biotechnology cluster, and New York's fintech ecosystem—the study examines the dynamic interplay between institutional design and entrepreneurial behavior. Drawing on Porter's Cluster Theory, Mazzucato's Entrepreneurial State concept, and the MIT REAP framework, the research develops a novel policy categorization encompassing four innovation governance tools: Cluster and Crisis Response Tools, Innovation Ecosystem Tools, Market-Shaping Tools, and Institutional Restructuring Tools. A qualitative case study methodology is employed, with in-depth firm-level analyses of Biren Technology in Shanghai and Moderna in Boston illustrating how entrepreneurs strategically respond to distinct institutional environments. The findings reveal four distinct models of innovation governance: Shanghai’s state-directed coordination, Shenzhen’s regulatory experimentation, Boston’s market-based orchestration, and New York’s regulation-centered oversight. Across contexts, entrepreneurs emerge as interpretive agents who actively leverage, adapt to, and at times reshape institutional conditions. This thesis contributes to the literature by offering comparative insights into the co-evolution of public policy and entrepreneurial strategy. It also provides practical implications for policymakers designing innovation ecosystems and for entrepreneurs navigating increasingly complex regulatory and technological landscapes.