Institutional Strengthening of Productive Units in Zone 6

This project addresses the structural and operational weaknesses affecting the sustainability of enterprises in Ecuador, evidenced by high early failure rates (9.3% in South America) and low innovation (ranked 99th out of 131 countries in the GII 2020). Despite a high Early Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) rate (26.9%), many businesses fail early due to personal issues, profitability concerns, and lack of financing. The main objective is to organizationally strengthen the Productive Units of Zone 6 by articulating efforts between the public sector (MPCEIP), academia, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The goal is to foster an environment conducive to formalization and growth, overcoming the vulnerability of micro-enterprises (58.1% independent) and enhancing their capabilities in business management, competitiveness, market access, and digital commerce adoption. The methodology will be mixed (quantitative and qualitative), following a causal-explanatory approach, utilizing surveys, interviews, and document analysis to integrate data and propose strategic inferences. Statistical processing results (using SPSS v21) will guide actions to improve cost control, liquidity, and strategies for domestic growth and export market penetration.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>To contribute to the organizational strengthening of Productive Units in Zone 6 linked to the MPCEIP, enhancing regional productive system sustainability through the design, construction, and articulation between institutions and academia, based on research findings.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Entrepreneurship and innovation