In recent years, policy makers have given much credence to the role of entrepreneurship in the transformation of regions. As a result, a new set of policy responses have emerged that focus on the support of new venture creation, small business growth and idea generation and commercialization.

While there is a wealth of research about entrepreneurship in general, less attention has been given to the development of new tools and programs in support of entrepreneurial activities, and to the ways in which the emergence, the character and the types of entrepreneurship policies might differ between countries. In particular, the transatlantic perspective is of special interest because of the pioneering role of the United States in this area, and also due to the European Union's focus on economic competitiveness.

The contributions included in this book explore the emergence of entrepreneurship policies from a transatlantic comparative perspective and address different aspects of entrepreneurship policies including local entrepreneurship policies and the relationship between knowledge-based industries and entrepreneurship policies.

'Entrepreneurial knowledge, technology and regions co-evolve in ways that often surprise both academics and policy makers. With this book, there will be fewer surprises and more insight.' — Markku Sotarauta, University of Tampere, Finland.

Charlie Karlsson is Professor of the Economics of Technological Change at Jönköping International Business School, Sweden. He is also President of the European Regional Science Association.

Börje Johansson is Professor of Economics at Jönköping International Business School, Sweden, and Professor of Infrastructure Economics at the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.

Roger Stough is NOVA Endowed Chair and Professor of Public Policy in the School of Public Policy, and Vice President for Research and Economic Development at George Mason University, USA.