Principal investigators and knowledge management: a micro-foundational conceptual framework

Scientists in the principal investigator (PI) role are at the heart of knowledge creation and management within innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The original knowledge they create through knowledge discovery forms the basis for technology transfer and commercialisation activities. There has been a growing empirical focus on different aspects of the PI role and how scientists in the role purse knowledge creation and exploitation. However, to date there has been no research and empirical attention on how principal investigators approach knowledge management. The purpose of this chapter is to address this deficit and to present a micro foundation conceptual framework that focuses on exploration and exploitation knowledge domain focus and know-how, opportunity and environmental scanning and knowledge management practices.