Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Building Exercise

This exercise aimed to equip Bonga University's academic leaders and management with practical tools to build strong environments for small and medium businesses (SMEs). üTo evaluate the current state of Ethiopia's SME ecosystem (its vision, talent, market, culture, and infrastructure). üTo create a clear picture of an ideal future ecosystem. üTo identify gaps between the current and future states and develop specific programs to bridge these gaps, fostering SME growth from ideas to scaling up. Outcomes of the Exercise: Participants gained a deep, evidence-based understanding of the Ethiopian SME ecosystem's current strengths and weaknesses. They collectively envisioned a desired future for the ecosystem and clearly identified the specific areas (gaps) that need improvement to reach this vision. Most importantly, the exercise resulted in concrete programs and initiatives to strengthen critical areas like entrepreneurial culture, talent development, market access, and infrastructure. This provides a practical plan for Bonga University and the EDI to boost SME innovation and growth in Ethiopia.