Location of research-based spin-offs : how relevant are regional effects?

Using a unique self-collected dataset that comprehends the population of research-based spin-offs created in Portugal from 1995 until to 2007, we investigate the location choices of these firms. In order to do so we control for both university- and region-related mechanisms. Our results suggest that the latter play a lesser role than university-related mechanisms. Although the availability of qualified human capital and urbanization economies seem to exert some effect on the location choices of research-based spin-offs, our results suggest that the quality and prestige of the universities located in a region, as well as the presence of university-affiliated incubators and/or university research parks have a stronger impact on the intensity of RBSO location across regions.COMPETE; QREN; FEDER; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Entry by research-based spin-offs

Reflecting the increasing number of research based spin-offs (RBSOs) created since the nineties, previous studies focus their analysis on the factors that influence university entrepreneurship. However, empirical studies that investigate the determinants of variation on RBSO creation across regions are scarce. Using a unique self-collected dataset that comprehends the population of RBSOs created in Portugal from 1995 until to 2007 we investigate the intensity of spin-offs entry across regions, by focusing on the characteristics of the universities and the region in which the spin-off is located. Our results suggest that the quality and prestige of the universities located in a municipality, as well as the presence of university-affiliated incubators and/or university research parks have a positive impact on the intensity of RBSO creation. Regarding the regional characteristics, the availability of qualified human capital and the urbanization economies seem to exert an important effect on spin-off activity across regions

The fast response of academic spinoffs to unexpected societal and economic challenges. Lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic crisis

The rapid emergence of the COVID‐19 crisis has challenged both private and public firms, requiring them to reshape their internal processes and external linkages in the fight against the virus, but also to survive the disrupting economic impact of the pandemic on their activities. Academic spinoffs have not been exempted from these dynamics. In this paper, we present and discuss a case study of an academic spinoff, Omnidermal, which has developed a new, efficient and easy‐to‐realize emergency life support machine for use in intensive and sub‐intensive care units. This case, apart from offering information on the best practices of how spinoffs may contribute socially to the fight against COVID‐19 and – more in general – against other exogenous shocks, also provides insights on their stages of development, evolution patterns and ability to define new solutions. The case shows that when the market needs are clear to a firm (as in the case of medical devices during the COVID‐19 crisis), the ‘legacy competences and practices’ of spinoffs (i.e., technical competences and work practices) can be fully exploited to compress the development time and to realize products demanded by the market. We also identify access to a network as being an essential boundary condition for this process. These results introduce an alternative scope for academic spinoffs. Given the ‘legacy competences and practices’ they are able to develop, they are ideal candidates to respond to the societal and economic challenges posed by a crisis over short periods of time. On the basis of these insights, we draw a series of implications for practitioners, policy makers and academics

Science, innovation and technology transfer pathways in translational research: a study of divergent trajectories in the healthcare sector in Europe

The geography of the biomedical sector, that of clustering in particular regions, presents an opportunity for place-specific understanding of processes involved in translational research in medical sciences, particularly with regard to the role of public policy and its outcomes in four bioscience regions in Europe

Sustainability and scalability of university spinouts: A business model perspective

Most previous studies of university spinouts (USOs) have focused on what determines their formation from the perspectives of the entrepreneurs or of their parent universities. However, few studies have investigated how these entrepreneurial businesses actually grow and how their business models evolve in the process. This paper examines the evolution of USOs' business models over their different development phases. Using empirical evidence gathered from three comprehensive case studies, we explore how USOs' business models evolve over time, and the implications for the financial sustainability and operational scalability of these ventures. This paper extends existing research on the development of USOs, and highlights three themes for future research

Estratégias de transferência de conhecimento e tecnologia das instituições científicas: compreender o passado para ajudar a construir o futuro

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the current situation of the research that analyzes KTT strategies in scientific institutions. Design/methodology/approach – To systematize the empirical evidence that emerged from academic debates in the field, the study breaks down, through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), 42 papers from the Web of Science database. The author divides the sample into three clusters: environmental impact, institutional effectiveness, and individual strategies, according to its unit of analysis. Findings – The findings indicate that the alignment of KTT activities with the strategic objectives of the institutions is fundamental for positive outcomes. In addition to that, the resources for obtaining relevant results are the quality and the availability of human capital in scientific institutions, public companies, and support organizations. Finally, there is a stream of research that criticizes the exclusively commercial approach of the phenomenon. Research limitations – The Web of Science database relies on being the manly coverage for scientific publications in general. So, due to the choice for composing this sample with papers written only in English, untranslated studies were excluded from this analysis. Originality/value – The contribution for Literature relies on proposing a future research agenda based on identified gaps and current topics, discussing the results of previous studies that can support the decision-making of these organizations at developing efficient KTT strategies for themselves.Objetivo – O objetivo da investigação é identificar o estado da arte da pesquisa dedicada à análise das estratégias de Transferência de Conhecimento e Tecnologia (TCT) em instituições científicas. Desenho/metodologia/abordagem – Através de uma Revisão Sistemática de Literatura (RSL), 42 artigos da base de dados Web of Science foram analisados ​​para sistematizar as principais evidências empíricas que surgiram do debate acadêmico. A amostra foi dividida em três grupos - Impacto Ambiental, Eficácia Institucional e Estratégias Individuais - de acordo com a unidade de análise dos pesquisadores. Resultados – Os resultados indicam que o alinhamento das atividades de TCT com os objetivos estratégicos das instituições é fundamental para resultados positivos. O principal recurso para a obtenção de resultados relevantes é a qualidade e disponibilidade de capital humano em instituições científicas, setor público, empresas ou organizações de apoio. Existe, ainda, uma corrente de pesquisas que critica a abordagem exclusivamente comercial do fenômeno. Limitações da Pesquisa – Apesar da Web of Science ser a plataforma com maior cobertura científica, outras bases de dados não foram consultadas. Devido a opção de compor a amostra com artigos escritos na língua inglesa, trabalhos não traduzidos foram excluídos da análise. Originalidade/valor – O trabalho apresenta contribuições para a literatura propondo uma agenda de pesquisa futura a partir das lacunas identificadas e temas atuais; e, para instituições científicas, discutindo resultados de estudos anteriores que podem subsidiar essas organizações no desenvolvimento de suas próprias estratégias de TCT

Entry by research-based spin-offs: the determinants of regional variation

Reflecting the increasing number of research based spin-offs (RBSOs) created since the nineties, previous studies focus their analysis on the factors that influence university entrepreneurship. However, empirical studies that investigate the determinants of variation on RBSO creation across regions are scarce. Using a unique self-collected dataset that comprehends the population of RBSOs created in Portugal from 1979 until to 2007 we investigate the intensity of spin-offs creation across regions, by focusing on the characteristics of the universities and the region in which the spin-off is located. Our results suggest that the quality and prestige of the universities located in a municipality, as well as the presence of university-affiliated incubators and/or university research parks have a positive impact on the intensity of RBSO creation. Regarding the regional characteristics, the availability of qualified human capital and the regional demand size seem to exert an important effect on spin-off activity across regions.FC

Exploring the role of U.K. Government policy in developing the university entrepreneurial finance ecosystem for Cleantech

Vast sums of public money are invested into universities globally as anchor institutions and knowledge bases providing seedbed resources for research and development (R&D) and entrepreneurship. Focusing on university science and technology (S&T) research we examine two UK case studies of government support from the ‘Innovation Knowledge Centre’ (IKC) program to translate research into industry innovation for public good. Although IKCs are not tasked to address Climate Change, the two case studies demonstrate tremendous potential for Cleantech development. An exploratory entrepreneurial finance (‘entfin’) ecosystem theoretical lens contextualizes the catalytic roles of universities and public funding to support industry at the base of the innovation finance escalator. We thus develop university-industry ecosystems literature, addressing the gap in nurturing university entfin for climate change. Our qualitative case study methodology includes literature review and 51 key informant interviews with: policymakers; university research leaders, technology transfer officers, specialist research to industry innovation ‘translation’ staff, SME beneficiaries, trade bodies; and early-stage private finance providers. We reveal nuances in different emerging innovation sectors – notably their degree of maturity, locality and outcome horizons for achieving impact, drawing attention to the key roles of universities and financing and their interactions within their entfin ecosystems. We demonstrate the need for government long horizon, deep pocket, investment and integrated university entfin policy mix, alongside more open, inclusive, ecosystem development between different actors

Strategy, resource orchestration and e-commerce enabled social innovation in rural China

E-commerce enabled social innovation is becoming increasingly important as a way of reducing poverty in developing countries and yet has not been studied much by the IS community. We utilize the concept of resource orchestration as a theoretical lens to develop a fit model that explicates how resources are orchestrated under the guidance of either an indigenous, exogenous or collaborative strategy to achieve e-commerce enabled social innovation. The findings show how resources are orchestrated through the following specific resource-focused actions (collaborating, linking and enriching), which are influenced by the types of strategies applied. Our study also identifies different resource portfolios that influence the type of e-commerce enabled social innovation that can be achieved. This research benefits both academics and practitioners by contributing to cumulative theoretical developments related to e-commerce enabled social innovation and the resource orchestration perspective, and by offering corresponding practical insights to achieve fit between strategy, resource orchestration and social innovation