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Does university prestige foster the initial growth of academic spin-offs?

Author

Listed:
  • Alice Civera

    (University of Bergamo
    University of Pavia)

  • Michele Meoli

    (University of Bergamo
    CCSE, University of Bergamo)

Abstract

This paper provides empirical evidence on the role of prestigious academic institutions in fostering spin-off companies with high-growth potential. We argue that, on the one hand, prestigious universities are likely to provide crucial information, resources and contacts to affiliated firms, enhancing the performances of academic spin-offs. On the other hand, since university reputation is at stake, there is an incentive for prestigious institutions to scrutinize the quality of spin-offs before allowing them to hit the market. Using a sample of 508 spin-offs launched from 85 Italian universities in the period 1999–2015, we find that university prestige is correlated with the expected growth rate of spin-off at the time of their birth, either directly or by moderating the university orientation for teaching and outreach activity (“third mission”).

Suggested Citation

  • Alice Civera & Michele Meoli, 2018. "Does university prestige foster the initial growth of academic spin-offs?," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 45(2), pages 111-142, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolin:v:45:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s40812-017-0072-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s40812-017-0072-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Civera, Alice & Meoli, Michele & Vismara, Silvio, 2020. "Engagement of academics in university technology transfer: Opportunity and necessity academic entrepreneurship," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    2. Matthew Good & Mirjam Knockaert & Birthe Soppe, 2020. "A typology of technology transfer ecosystems: how structure affects interactions at the science–market divide," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(5), pages 1405-1431, October.
    3. Franco-Leal Noelia & Camelo-Ordaz Carmen & Fernandez-Alles Mariluz & Sousa-Ginel Elena, 2020. "The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Actors and Performance in Different Stages of Evolution of Academic Spinoffs," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Giuliano Sansone & Daniele Battaglia & Paolo Landoni & Emilio Paolucci, 2021. "Academic spinoffs: the role of entrepreneurship education," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 369-399, March.
    5. Lee, Kyootai & Jung, Hyun Ju, 2024. "What makes universities build academic spin-offs more successfully? A theory-based triangulation of quantitative studies based on meta-analyses," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    6. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Academic entrepreneurship; Spin-offs; Growth; Prestige; University rankings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions

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