Title: Universities as entrepreneurship engines in the periphery: more than wishful thinking? The example of Kiel in Northern Germany

Authors: Javier Revilla Diez, Bjorn Mildahn

Addresses: Chair of Economic Geography, Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography, University of Hannover, Schneiderberg 50, Hannover D-30167, Germany. ' Institute of Geography at Kiel's Christian Albrecht University, Ludewig, Meyn-Strasse 14, Kiel D-24098, Germany

Abstract: Kiel has undergone a dramatic change in its economic structure in the last few decades that has resulted in an increased rate of unemployment and only slight economic growth. This paper considers the role tertiary institutions in the region play in the establishment of new businesses. A list of businesses founded by alumni of tertiary institutions in the Kiel region was compiled through interviews with research fellows and professors. Other aspects related to the willingness to set up a business as well as to the perception of the environment in which the entrepreneurship is to take place allow one to make an assessment of the institutions| potential for setting up businesses in future. This paper concludes by suggesting ways in which regional entrepreneurship can be improved.

Keywords: tertiary institutions; regional entrepreneurship; regional development; Kiel; Germany; innovation management; higher education; universities; new businesses; startups; regional innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2007.012890

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.2/3/4/5, pp.385 - 404

Published online: 21 Mar 2007 *

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