IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jknowl/v15y2024i1d10.1007_s13132-023-01110-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transferring Scientific Knowledge to Academic Startups: the Moderating Effect of the Dual Identity of Academic Entrepreneurs on Forming Knowledge Depth and Knowledge Breadth

Author

Listed:
  • Yuanyuan Chen

    (Chongqing University)

  • Wei Liu

    (Chongqing University)

  • Stavros Sindakis

    (Hellenic Open University)

  • Sakshi Aggarwal

    (Institute of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Education for Growth)

Abstract

This paper explores the mechanism for knowledge transfer of academic entrepreneurs by using the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship (KSTE) and identity theory. We classified academic entrepreneurs into two distinct hybrid types, “hybrid scientists” and “hybrid entrepreneurs,” based on different identity centralities and conducted an empirical study on the relationship among academic entrepreneurs’ scientific knowledge, the two dimensions of their firms’ knowledge base (knowledge depth and knowledge breadth), and their various hybrid roles. This study involving 176 academic start-ups from National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) in China discovered that academic entrepreneurs’ scientific knowledge positively contributes to the emergence of academic start-ups’ knowledge base. The different dual identities moderately affect the relationship between academic entrepreneurs’ scientific knowledge and their firms’ knowledge depth and breadth. The results suggest that academic entrepreneurs who are also “hybrid scientists” can positively promote the development of the firms’ knowledge breadth, and the “hybrid entrepreneurs” deepen the knowledge depth of academic start-ups.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanyuan Chen & Wei Liu & Stavros Sindakis & Sakshi Aggarwal, 2024. "Transferring Scientific Knowledge to Academic Startups: the Moderating Effect of the Dual Identity of Academic Entrepreneurs on Forming Knowledge Depth and Knowledge Breadth," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1823-1844, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s13132-023-01110-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-023-01110-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13132-023-01110-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s13132-023-01110-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Neda Baniasadi & Davoud Samari & Seyyed Jamal Farajollah Hosseini & Maryam Omidi Najafabadi, 2021. "Strategic study of total innovation management and its relationship with marketing capabilities in palm conversion and complementary industries," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Etzkowitz, Henry & Webster, Andrew & Gebhardt, Christiane & Terra, Branca Regina Cantisano, 2000. "The future of the university and the university of the future: evolution of ivory tower to entrepreneurial paradigm," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 313-330, February.
    3. Maribel Guerrero & David Urbano, 2014. "Academics’ start-up intentions and knowledge filters: an individual perspective of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 57-74, June.
    4. Rosangela Feola & Roberto Parente & Valentina Cucino, 2021. "The Entrepreneurial University: How to Develop the Entrepreneurial Orientation of Academia," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(4), pages 1787-1808, December.
    5. Maria Abreu & Vadim Grinevich, 2017. "Gender patterns in academic entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 763-794, August.
    6. Radzivon Marozau & Maribel Guerrero & David Urbano, 2021. "Impacts of Universities in Different Stages of Economic Development," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Zoltán J. Ács & Pontus Braunerhjelm & David B. Audretsch & Bo Carlsson, 2015. "The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship," Chapters, in: Global Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Incentives, chapter 7, pages 129-144, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Aaron K. Chatterji, 2009. "Spawned with a silver spoon? Entrepreneurial performance and innovation in the medical device industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 185-206, February.
    9. Elias Carayannis & Igor Dubina & Alina Ilinova, 2015. "Licensing in the Context of Entrepreneurial University Activity: an Empirical Evidence and a Theoretical Model," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Colombelli, Alessandra & Krafft, Jackie & Vivarelli, Marco, 2016. "To Be Born Is Not Enough: The Key Role of Innovative Startups," IZA Discussion Papers 9733, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Lars Jonsson & Enrico Baraldi & Lars-Eric Larsson & Petter Forsberg & Kristofer Severinsson, 2015. "Targeting Academic Engagement in Open Innovation: Tools, Effects and Challenges for University Management," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(3), pages 522-550, September.
    12. Shrutika Mishra & A. R. Tripathi, 2021. "AI business model: an integrative business approach," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Shaker A. Zahra & Els Van de Velde & Bárbara Larrañeta, 2007. "Knowledge conversion capability and the performance of corporate and university spin-offs," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 16(4), pages 569-608, August.
    14. Abriham Ebabu Engidaw, 2021. "Exploring entrepreneurial culture and its socio-cultural determinants: in case of Woldia University graduating students," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    15. McMillan, G. Steven & Narin, Francis & Deeds, David L., 2000. "An analysis of the critical role of public science in innovation: the case of biotechnology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 1-8, January.
    16. Labib Arafeh, 2016. "An entrepreneurial key competencies’ model," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-26, December.
    17. Waverly W. Ding, 2011. "The Impact of Founders' Professional-Education Background on the Adoption of Open Science by For-Profit Biotechnology Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(2), pages 257-273, February.
    18. Walter, Sascha G. & Schmidt, Arne & Walter, Achim, 2016. "Patenting rationales of academic entrepreneurs in weak and strong organizational regimes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(2), pages 533-545.
    19. Mila Davids & Koen Frenken, 2018. "Proximity, knowledge base and the innovation process: towards an integrated framework," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(1), pages 23-34, January.
    20. S. M. Riad Shams & Zhanna Belyaeva, 2019. "Quality Assurance Driving Factors as Antecedents of Knowledge Management: a Stakeholder-Focussed Perspective in Higher Education," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(2), pages 423-436, June.
    21. Marius Tuft Mathisen & Einar Rasmussen, 2019. "The development, growth, and performance of university spin-offs: a critical review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1891-1938, December.
    22. Stephan, Paula E., 2010. "The Economics of Science," Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, in: Bronwyn H. Hall & Nathan Rosenberg (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 217-273, Elsevier.
    23. Bill Francis & Iftekhar Hasan & Qiang Wu, 2015. "Professors in the Boardroom and Their Impact on Corporate Governance and Firm Performance," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 44(3), pages 547-581, September.
    24. Massimo Colombo & Philippe Mustar & Mike Wright, 2010. "Dynamics of Science-based entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 1-15, February.
    25. Henk W. Volberda & Nicolai J. Foss & Marjorie A. Lyles, 2010. "PERSPECTIVE---Absorbing the Concept of Absorptive Capacity: How to Realize Its Potential in the Organization Field," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 931-951, August.
    26. Luís Farinha & João Ferreira & Borges Gouveia, 2016. "Networks of Innovation and Competitiveness: A Triple Helix Case Study," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 7(1), pages 259-275, March.
    27. Hanadi Mubarak Al-Mubaraki & Michael Busler, 2017. "Challenges and opportunities of innovation and incubators as a tool for knowledge-based economy," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, December.
    28. Narubodee Wathanakom & Jintavee Khlaisang & Noawanit Songkram, 2020. "The study of the causal relationship between innovativeness and entrepreneurial intention among undergraduate students," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    29. Wang, Q. & von Tunzelmann, N., 2000. "Complexity and the functions of the firm: breadth and depth," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7-8), pages 805-818, August.
    30. Michael Dahl & Toke Reichstein, 2007. "Are You Experienced? Prior Experience and the Survival of New Organizations," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(5), pages 497-511.
    31. Niccolò Ghio & Massimiliano Guerini & Erik Lehmann & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2015. "The emergence of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 1-18, January.
    32. Marianna Makri & Michael A. Hitt & Peter J. Lane, 2010. "Complementary technologies, knowledge relatedness, and invention outcomes in high technology mergers and acquisitions," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 602-628, June.
    33. Miao Wang & Danny Soetanto & Jianfeng Cai & Hina Munir, 2022. "Scientist or Entrepreneur? Identity centrality, university entrepreneurial mission, and academic entrepreneurial intention," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 119-146, February.
    34. Mike Wright & Keith M. Hmieleski & Donald S. Siegel & Michael D. Ensley, 2007. "The Role of Human Capital in Technological Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(6), pages 791-806, November.
    35. Fabrizio, Kira R., 2009. "Absorptive capacity and the search for innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 255-267, March.
    36. Kwaku Amofah & Ramon Saladrigues, 2022. "Impact of attitude towards entrepreneurship education and role models on entrepreneurial intention," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-30, December.
    37. Bruno Cassiman & Reinhilde Veugelers & Pluvia Zuniga, 2008. "In search of performance effects of (in)direct industry science links," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 17(4), pages 611-646, August.
    38. Broto Bhardwaj, 2019. "Role of Knowledge Management in Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Through Corporate Entrepreneurship and Strategic Intent in High-tech Firms," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 10(4), pages 1831-1859, December.
    39. Agarwal, Rajshree & Shah, Sonali K., 2014. "Knowledge sources of entrepreneurship: Firm formation by academic, user and employee innovators," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1109-1133.
    40. Audretsch, David & Braunerhjelm, Pontus & Acs, Zoltán J & Carlsson, Bo, 2004. "The Missing Link: The Knowledge Filter and Entrepreneurship in Endogenous Growth," CEPR Discussion Papers 4783, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    41. Feng Guo & Bo Zou & Jinyu Guo & Yan Shi & Qingwen Bo & Liangxing Shi, 2019. "What determines academic entrepreneurship success? A social identity perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 929-952, September.
    42. Tommaso Minola & Davide Hahn & Lucio Cassia, 2021. "The relationship between origin and performance of innovative start-ups: the role of technological knowledge at founding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 553-569, February.
    43. Carlos Bazan & Hannah Gaultois & Arifusalam Shaikh & Katie Gillespie & Sean Frederick & Ali Amjad & Simon Yap & Chantel Finn & James Rayner & Nafisa Belal, 2020. "A systematic literature review of the influence of the university’s environment and support system on the precursors of social entrepreneurial intention of students," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, December.
    44. Prithwiraj Choudhury & Martine R. Haas, 2018. "Scope versus speed: Team diversity, leader experience, and patenting outcomes for firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 977-1002, April.
    45. Graeme Joseph Allen, 2022. "Concepturealize™: a new contribution to generate real-needs-focussed, user-centred, lean business models," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-33, December.
    46. Yan Shi & Bo Zou & Roberto S. Santos, 2021. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: How do academic entrepreneurs deal with identity conflict?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(8), pages 2165-2191, November.
    47. Martin Meyer, 2002. "Tracing knowledge flows in innovation systems," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 54(2), pages 193-212, June.
    48. Suleiman “Sul” Kassicieh, 2010. "The Knowledge Economy and Entrepreneurial Activities in Technology-Based Economic Development," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 1(1), pages 24-47, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tommaso Minola & Davide Hahn & Lucio Cassia, 2021. "The relationship between origin and performance of innovative start-ups: the role of technological knowledge at founding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 553-569, February.
    2. Dipan Kumar Sahu & Sucheta Pawar & Prerna Gaur & Sudhir K. Jain, 2023. "Entrepreneurial Engagement of Faculty in Higher Educational Institutions: A Review of Literature 2011–2023," Paradigm, , vol. 27(2), pages 153-171, December.
    3. Marco Ferretti & Salvatore Ferri & Raffaele Fiorentino & Adele Parmentola & Alessandro Sapio, 2019. "Neither absent nor too present: the effects of the engagement of parent universities on the performance of academic spin-offs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 153-173, January.
    4. Daniel Feser & Till Proeger, 2017. "Asymmetric information as a barrier to knowledge spillovers in expert markets," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 211-232, March.
    5. Feser, Daniel & Proeger, Till, 2015. "Asymmetric information as a barrier to knowledge spillovers in expert markets," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 259, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    6. Massimo G. Colombo & Massimiliano Guerini & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra & Andrea Bonaccorsi, 2022. "The “first match” between high-tech entrepreneurial ventures and universities: the role of founders’ social ties," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 270-306, February.
    7. Leten, Bart & Kelchtermans, Stijn & Belderbos, Ren, 2010. "Internal Basic Research, External Basic Research and the Technological Performance of Pharmaceutical Firms," Working Papers 2010/12, Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel, Faculteit Economie en Management.
    8. B. Urban & J. Chantson, 2019. "Academic entrepreneurship in South Africa: testing for entrepreneurial intentions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 948-980, June.
    9. El-Awad, Ziad & Brattström, Anna & Breugst, Nicola, 2022. "Bridging cognitive scripts in multidisciplinary academic spinoff teams: A process perspective on how academics learn to work with non-academic managers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    10. Simeth, Markus & Raffo, Julio D., 2013. "What makes companies pursue an Open Science strategy?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 1531-1543.
    11. Till Proeger & Petrik Runst, 2020. "Digitization and Knowledge Spillover Effectiveness—Evidence from the “German Mittelstand”," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(4), pages 1509-1528, December.
    12. Till Proeger, 2020. "Knowledge Spillovers and Absorptive Capacity—Institutional Evidence from the “German Mittelstand”," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(1), pages 211-238, March.
    13. René Belderbos & Nazareno Braito & Jian Wang, 2024. "Heterogeneous university research and firm R&D location decisions: research orientation, academic quality, and investment type," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1959-1989, October.
    14. Acosta, Manuel & Coronado, Daniel & Toribio, Mª Rosario, 2011. "The use of scientific knowledge by Spanish agrifood firms," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 507-516, August.
    15. Proeger, Till, 2017. "Knowledge spillovers and absorptive capacity - institutional evidence from the 'German Mittelstand'," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 320, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, revised 2017.
    16. Svenja Jarchow & Andrea Röhm, 2019. "Patent-based investment funds: from invention to innovation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 404-433, April.
    17. Coad, Alex & Kaiser, Ulrich & Kuhn, Johan, 2021. "Spin doctors vs the spawn of capitalism: Who founds university and corporate startups?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(10).
    18. repec:wip:wpaper:6 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Proeger, Till & Runst, Petrik, 2019. "Digitization and knowledge spillover effectiveness: Evidence from the "German Mittelstand"," ifh Working Papers 20/2019, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    20. Alice Civera & Michele Meoli, 2023. "Empowering female entrepreneurs through university affiliation: evidence from Italian academic spinoffs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1337-1355, October.
    21. David Grosse Kathoefer & Jens Leker, 2012. "Knowledge transfer in academia: an exploratory study on the Not-Invented-Here Syndrome," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(5), pages 658-675, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s13132-023-01110-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.