Abstract
<jats:p>The aim of the study was to develop a conceptual model for integrating quality assurance mechanisms into public management of start-up projects and to empirically verify the impact of government quality tools on the level of development of the entrepreneurial environment in an international comparative context. Materials and methods: The empirical basis of the study is a balanced panel of 30 countries for 2013-2023, covering countries with varying levels of startup ecosystem development, from recognized leaders to countries with transition economies. The statistical basis is formed on the basis of five verified international sources: Global Startup Ecosystem Index, Worldwide Governance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index, Global Innovation Index, and World Bank data on GDP. The main method is a two-way panel regression model with fixed effects of countries and time. Results: Regression analysis confirmed the statistical significance of all four government predictors (p < 0.05) and established their hierarchy in terms of influence: quality of the innovation environment (β = 0.38), transparency of public administration (β = 0.29), effectiveness of state coordination (β = 0.25), and quality of the regulatory environment (β = 0.22). The synergistic nature of simultaneous reform of several components, exceeding the sum of their individual effects, was revealed. A scenario analysis for Ukraine showed that achieving the transparency and quality of the innovation environment at the level of Poland could increase the startup ecosystem index by 12-14 points, moving it to a higher cluster in international rankings. Conclusions: The results refute the widespread belief that regulatory simplification is a key tool for the development of startup ecosystems. Systemic integration of quality assurance mechanisms into public administration, primarily in the direction of developing innovative infrastructure and improving integrity, is a much more effective strategy than selective regulatory reforms. The proposed four-level conceptual model can serve as an analytical basis for the development of state strategies for a supportive system of innovative entrepreneurship.</jats:p>