"The Institutional Education and Training for Entrepreneurship Development in the Italian Universities"

The role of the University in triggering the innovation processes and supporting the local development has been recognised for a long time. Universities have a strategic task in generating and sustaining economic growth, especially regarding the successful commercialisation of the scientific research results and the wide promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit. Although entrepreneurship may be influenced by different factors, there is certainly a cultural aspect that needs to be taken into account and, in this respect, education may offer an important contribution. However, the collection of quantitative data and figures on education for entrepreneurship is, in most countries, still very limited. This paper seeks to provide a picture of the current situation in Italy at the University level, identifying the entrepreneurship chairs and activities promoted inside the 78 Italian Universities. The overall goal is to reach a better understanding of the nature and scope of the existing measures and programmes.