Title: Exploring differences in university support practices and the effects on spin-off companies in Boston

Authors: Alessandro Baroncelli; Matteo Landoni

Addresses: ICRIM, International Center of Research on International Management, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Necchi 5, 20123, Milan, Italy ' ICRIM, International Center of Research on International Management, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Necchi 5, 20123, Milan, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents a comparative analysis of university-level support practices and entrepreneurial behaviour of spin-offs from nine universities in Boston. We explore the prerequisite to venture in the university, the entrepreneurs' attitude throughout the first years of activity, and discuss differences in spin-offs' outcomes. The investigation explores 81 academic spin-offs active since 2013. We found that two alternative behaviours are suitable to provide the right support to academic spin-offs. In top-academic institutions the availability of services and incentives to facilitate patent rights ownership, university equities, and venture capital is more likely to be found, while in lower-ranked universities spin-offs mostly rely on incubators services to overcome capital limitations.

Keywords: academic spin-offs; innovation; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial ecosystem; university support; entrepreneurial behaviour; entrepreneurial practice; innovation management; survey research; Boston.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2017.085689

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2017 Vol.21 No.4/5, pp.366 - 394

Received: 31 Mar 2016
Accepted: 26 Jul 2016
Published online: 07 Aug 2017 *

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