Assessing the Market Potential and Investment Trends of University-Origin Maritime Spin-Off Companies

Andrzej Poszewiecki and Malgorzata Poszewiecka

European Research Studies Journal, 2025, vol. XXVIII, issue 3, 840-858

Abstract: Purpose: This paper examines the market potential and investment trends of university-origin maritime spin-offs, a niche yet underexplored field in academic entrepreneurship. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employs keyword-based searches on Crunchbase and PitchBook, identifying 147 maritime spin-offs. Quantitative methods are combined with case studies (ICEYE, Daphne Technology) to analyse investment patterns, scalability, and survival. Findings: Maritime spin-offs represent only 2.3% of academic ventures but face significant capital and regulatory barriers. Investment concentration follows a power-law distribution, with 5% of companies capturing 63% of sector funding. Case studies highlight how dual-use technologies and modular retrofits improve survival prospects. Practical Implications: Insights are valuable for universities, investors, and policymakers in designing sector-specific support mechanisms. Recommendations include industry-coupled incubation, targeted investment in underfunded niches, and streamlined regulatory pathways. Originality/Value: Unlike prior studies focused on high-tech sectors, this research develops a methodological framework and sector-specific performance indicators for maritime spin-offs, offering new tools for analysing academic entrepreneurship in traditional industries.

Keywords: Academic entrepreneurship; maritime innovation; university spin-offs; venture capital; commercialization. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 O32 R41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ersj.eu/journal/4080/download (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxviii:y:2025:i:3:p:840-858

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in European Research Studies Journal from European Research Studies Journal
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Marios Agiomavritis ().