Title: University spin-offs and their commercialisation through acquisition

Authors: Christina Öberg

Addresses: School of Business, Örebro University, SE-701 82 Örebro, Sweden; The Ratio Institute, P.O. Box 3203, SE-103 64 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: This paper discusses commercialisation through the acquisition of university spin-offs and its various outcomes based on resource and capability reconfigurations. The paper captures what happens with the university spin-off in terms of resource and capability configurations and the potential opening of new development paths as a consequence of the acquisition. Findings point to an increased gap between resources and capability use as the consequence of the acquisition. Although resources may be added to the spin-off, the university spin-off is not helped but rather constrained in its use of its capabilities, and new capabilities may not be developed or added related to the added resources. Regardless of resource reconfigurations, the only obtained commercialisation is if the acquirer starts buying from the spin-off. The paper contributes to previous research through its focus on acquisitions of university spin-offs, and in its wider sense to literature on the commercialisation of research ideas.

Keywords: acquisitions; capabilities; resources; case study; resources; university spin-offs; research commercialisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSB.2016.081423

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2016 Vol.8 No.4, pp.413 - 436

Accepted: 05 Sep 2016
Published online: 07 Jan 2017 *

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