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Scholars’ Identity Transition and Its Impact on Spin-Offs’ R&D Input

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  • Xiaohua Li

    (School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Daozhou Yang

    (School of Journalism and Communication, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan 430213, China)

  • Wu Zhao

    (School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi’an 710114, China)

Abstract

This paper explores the academic entrepreneur’s identity transition and its impact on spin-off’s innovative input. Central to this study is the factors that influence scholars’ position-holding behavior and their impact on spin-offs. Based on the data of the 2005–2010 SME Innovation Fund and 14 interviews, we investigate the influence of scholars’ role embeddedness on their entrepreneurial role-taking behavior from the perspective of identity theory. Empirical results show that scholars with higher embeddedness in academia are less likely to hold a spin-offs’ CEO position. Besides, follow-up research found that scholars holding CEO positions can increase a spin-off’s R&D input, which reveals the influence of scholars’ career imprinting and its scientific logic on role-taking behaviors and spin-offs’ innovation input. We also empirically test the effect of scientific logic and business logic on a spin-off’s innovation input, concluding that conflicts between these two logics are detrimental to a firm’s innovation input. This paper contributes to existing literature by providing a new perspective for identity theory and has implications for scholars’ entrepreneurial practice. Additionally, it provides a theoretical basis for technology transfer and open innovation policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohua Li & Daozhou Yang & Wu Zhao, 2021. "Scholars’ Identity Transition and Its Impact on Spin-Offs’ R&D Input," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2358-:d:503881
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