Researching start-ups - The importance of space and the implications for economic geography

Start-ups are one of the most relevant current subjects in wide sections of academia, business and, in particular, in politics. This is due to many fa ctors, some of which relate to new technological developments and their eco nomic implications, to a general structural change and to the increasing im portance, despite globalisation, of very small enterprises. This paper sets forth arguments sustaining the thesis that the determinants for the establ ishment of start-ups are not neutral in spatial terms. Rather, spatial diff erentiation can be identified, systematised and, in principle, quantified w ith regard to the causes as well as the economic effects of start-ups. Econ omic geography in particular as an academic discipline is confronted with n umerous new research tasks in the areas of theory, empirical research and p olicy. Economic geography has comparative strengths over other disciplines who also explore start-ups, which should be emphasised more emphatically an d with more self-confidence than to date.