Int. J. Innovation and Regional Development, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2018 1 Copyright © 2018 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Can universities play an active role in fostering entrepreneurship in emerging ecosystems? A case study of the University of São Paulo Artur Tavares Vilas Boas Ribeiro* Cidade Universitária, 908-FEA, 1-Sala B 114, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil and Faculdade de Economia e Administração, Núcleo de Política e Gestão Tecnológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Email: Arturvb@usp.br *Corresponding author Eduardo de Senzi Zancul Departamento de Engenharia de Produção, Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Email: ezancul@usp.br Justin Hugo Axel-Berg and Guilherme Ary Plonski Faculdade de Economia e Administração, Núcleo de Política e Gestão Tecnológica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil Email: justin.axelberg@usp.br Email: plonski2@usp.br Abstract: The present study aims to identify patterns and roles that can be played by research universities in emerging entrepreneurship ecosystems. Its methodology is based on a case study of the University of São Paulo, analysing three startups born inside the university and the characteristics of its development processes. As a conclusion, we identify strategies to deal with bottlenecks and enhancers of an emerging entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as patterns on how a university can stimulate entrepreneurship in a context of regional constraints – such as: 1) building interfaces between academic environments; 2) applying processes such as customer development using university capabilities; 3) empowering grassroots movements for entrepreneurship. Keywords: entrepreneurship; entrepreneurship ecosystems; entrepreneurial universities; startups; venture creation; university; third mission; technology development; new business; economic development.