University-Based Entrepreneurial Support Programs and Institutional Mechanisms in Algeria: Strategic Roles, Operational Models, and Challenges in Advancing Academic Entrepreneurship within a Knowledge-Based Economy

Despite the wide range of public policies, institutional reforms, and financial support mechanisms introduced by the Algerian state to stimulate entrepreneurship within the framework of the transition toward a market economy, entrepreneurial activity has not yet reached the expected level of dynamism or sustainability.This shortfall is reflected in several structural indicators, including the limited number of newly established enterprises, high rates of business discontinuity, and the generally weak economic performance of start-ups and small enterprises.One of the main structural causes of this situation lies in the nature of entrepreneurship in Algeria, which remains largely practice-oriented and administratively driven, with insufficient integration of scientific knowledge, academic expertise, and innovation-based competencies.This limitation has become increasingly problematic in the context of the global shift toward a knowledge-based economy, where universities play a central role in generating human capital, innovation, and entrepreneurial capabilities.Against this backdrop, the present study emphasizes the strategic importance of universities as key actors within the national entrepreneurial ecosystem.It