This chapter explores the role of middleground hubs in entrepreneurial ecosystemsecosystems of innovation, with a focus on the videogame industry in BarcelonaBarcelona. Using the case of GameBCN, the second-largest videogame incubator in Europe, the chapter examines how local entrepreneurial ecosystems support creative and technological innovation. Drawing on 3 years of non-participant observation and in-depth interviews, the study highlights how GameBCN functions as a bridge between grassroots creators and established industry players, fostering knowledge exchange, mentorship, and collaboration. The chapter expands the middleground concept by integrating community-building and purpose-driven innovation as essential drivers of creativity. Additionally, it demonstrates how GameBCN enhances industry sustainability through project ecologies, mentorship programs, and global-local integration. The findings highlight the replicability of the middleground hub model and emphasize the importance of local context in shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems within the creative industries.
González-Piñero, M., Pareja-Estaway, M. (2025). Middleground hubs in entrepreneurial ecosystems of innovation: The case of GameBCN. De Gruyter Handbook of Creative Industries, edited by Louis-Etienne Dubois, Laurent Simon and Bérangére Szostak, pp. 151-166.
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