Organizational and individual factors of the spin-off process from academic laboratories: an exploratory case study in life sciences
Organizational and individual factors of the spin-off process from academic laboratories: an exploratory case study in life sciences

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: Combining economic and psychological perspectives, identify some of the main factors that influence academic scientists' decisions whether to start or not a spin-off process. Aims: The study considers both economic and psychological outlooks by employing, on a business perspective, some already validated psychological frameworks. Methodology/approach: To explore the motivation and critical questions that may lead scientists to start, or not, an academic spin-off company, a two-level perspective is applied: an organizational level and an individual level. The survey was answered by 59 volunteer faculty or non-clinical researchers with research focused on life science fields. The total number of members of the survey universe was 148, so the response rate was 40%. Findings: Since the aim was to explore trends and motivations, not to test hypotheses, inferential statistical tests were not used but just descriptive statistics tools. The study allowed to identify the aspects to be considered in academic policies to promote research valorisation processes through starting spin-off companies. Limitations of the study: The study is subject to several limitations, some of which are common to qualitative research in general and some of which are unique to the study design; namely (i) it is based on a purposefully selected sample; (ii) qualitative studies are subject to researcher bias; (iii) the findings may not be generalizable to other contexts. The results achieved may be validated through further research in other contexts, since entrepreneurial activities may vary according to different cultures. Practical implications: The study conducted leads us to argue that it is necessary - albeit not sufficient - to equip academic researchers with "right" knowledge and adequate relational capital to make the entrepreneurial challenge as desirable as a prosperous academic career. Value: The exploratory case study aims to analyse the “unconditional” entrepreneurial intentions of scientists regarding the commercialization of knowledge, through the founding of companies.

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