The Role of Higher Education Institutions and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Creation and Development of Academic Spinoffs

Ana Pacheco, João J. Ferreira and Jorge Simões

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 2023, vol. 32, issue 3, 495-524

Abstract: Academic spinoffs have received great attention in recent years as a means of transferring the knowledge generated by the research activities of higher education institutions (HEIs). Despite the contribution identified by the literature, there remains a lack of empirical evidence substantiating how the creation of academic spinoffs is enabled by entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and HEIs. This study theorises on the relevance of EO within the context of universities and how such an orientation may drive the founding and development of academic spinoffs. Based on a qualitative study, with 15 interviews from university rectors/presidents, faculty/school deans, degree program directors at Portuguese public HEIs, and founders of spinoffs, the results generate two relevant insights: (i) EO is relevant to the creation, growth, and performance of academic spinoffs, and (ii) personal fulfilment, the transfer of knowledge acquired in HEIs and the search for economic independence represent the main motivations for the creation of academic spinoffs. The findings are discussed to highlight their implications for theory, practice and policy-making.

Keywords: Universities; higher education institutions; entrepreneurial orientation; academic entrepreneurship; academic spinoffs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jouent:v:32:y:2023:i:3:p:495-524

DOI: 10.1177/09713557231210674

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