计量经济分析 = Econometric analysis

What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.

The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields (Chinese Translation)

A considerable body of work highlights the relevance of collaborative research, contract research, consulting and informal relationships for university-industry knowledge transfer. We present a systematic review of research on academic scientists’ involvement in these activities to which we refer as ‘academic engagement’. Apart from extracting findings that are generalisable across studies, we ask how academic engagement differs from commercialization, defined as intellectual property creation and academic entrepreneurship. We identify the individual, organizational and institutional antecedents and consequences of academic engagement, and then compare these findings with the antecedents and consequences of commercialization. Apart from being more widely practiced, academic engagement is distinct from commercialization in that it is closely aligned with traditional academic research activities, and pursued by academics to access resources supporting their research agendas. We conclude by identifying future research needs, opportunities for methodological improvement and policy interventions. (Published version available via open access)

Academic Engagement and Commercialisation: A Review of the Literature on University-Industry Relations

http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/104445/1/Academic%20engagement.pdf

Academic engagement and commercialisation : A review of the literature on university-industry relations

The literature on university entrepreneurship is rapidly expanding, in both the United States and Europe. Since the literature is also fairly fragmented, however, we submit that it is time to take stock of the current knowledge to provide directions for future research and guideposts for policy makers. To accomplish this, we present an unusually comprehensive and detailed literature analysis of the stream of research on university entrepreneurship, now encompassing 173 articles published in a variety of academic journals. Four major research streams emerge in this area of study: (i) entrepreneurial research university, (ii) productivity of technology transfer offices, (iii) new firm creation, and (iv) environmental context including networks of innovation. We inductively derive a framework describing the dynamic process of university entrepreneurship based on a synthesis of the literature. We submit that this framework is useful in guiding future research on this important, yet complex and under-researched topic.

/pdf/university-entrepreneurship-a-taxonomy-of-the-literature-4b9y2nciv4.pdf

University entrepreneurship: a taxonomy of the literature

This paper reports results from a survey of 208 Italian faculty members, inventors of university-owned patents, on their motivation to get involved in university patenting activities, the obstacles that they faced, and their suggestions to foster the commercialization of academic knowledge through patents. Findings show that respondents get involved in patenting activities to enhance their prestige and reputation, and look for new stimuli for their research; personal earnings do not represent a main incentive. University-level patent regulations reduce the obstacles perceived by inventors, as far as they signal universities’ commitment to legitimate patenting activities. Implications for innovation policies are discussed.

To patent or not to patent? A survey of Italian inventors on motivations, incentives, and obstacles to university patenting

The organizational factors that affect the success of new ventures established by academics are investigated. As a measure of success of newly established companies, the focus is on two characteristics of these business ideas: business idea articulation (the degree of detail and extent that it provides a clear and detailed mission statement) and business idea market attractiveness (its capacity for being attractive to the marketplace). The business idea itself is the complex of products/services, knowledge, competencies, market, and technologies needed to run a business. Two research hypotheses about the organizational characteristics (articulation of roles, communication and networking, market orientation of research groups, and prior joint experience) of startups are proposed: (1) that the business idea market attractiveness of the startup is positively influenced by the market orientation of the academic founders and the interaction frequency with outside agents, and (2) the business idea articulation is positively affected by the articulation of roles and the degree of prior joint experience of the academics. The hypotheses were tested by a sample of 42 Italian academic startups. Public data were collected and supplemented with information supplied by professors, researchers, scientists, and colleagues of spin-offs. Results support existing theories about the importance of combining different outside knowledge sets that need to be accessed through external relations. Outward looking academics are familiar with market requirements that are transferred to their own research. Results empirically support the importance of articulation of roles and prior joint experience in the case of academic founding firms. Finally, contributions to theory and implications for managers, public policy, and future research are discussed. (TNM)

Academics' Organizational Characteristis and the Generation of Successful Business Ideas

Institutional changes and the commercialization of academic knowledge: A study of Italian universities’ patenting activities between 1965 and 2002

This paper deals with newly established ventures and their relations with external agents. The founding teams' intention to set up relations with external agents and their frequency of interaction with external agents are addressed as two features that are likely to lead to the success of academic spin-off companies. Empirical analysis is based on a data set of 40 Italian academic spin-offs. The external agents who are most likely to have interactions with academic spin-off companies are first identified. Two research hypotheses are then put forward: (a) that the intention of the founding teams to set up relations with external agents is influenced by the degree of articulation of roles and the completeness of the founding teams; (b) that the founding teams' frequency of interaction with external agents is influenced by the frequency of interaction with external agents of the research groups of origin and by their scientific and technological excellence. Some remarks are then made on the role that universities play in helping new ventures to set up relations with external agents.

Exploring the Networking Characteristics of New Venture Founding Teams: A Stdy of Italian Academic Spin-off

What are the core services of start-up incubators, and how can they be managed best? This paper uses five incubator archetypes (university, regional business, company-internal, independent commercial, and virtual incubators) to identify key services and describe their implementation. Case-research was conducted on 10 incubators (from an estimated total of 50) in Italy. The paper concluded that differences in competitive scope (industry, geography, and segment focus) and differences in strategic objectives (profit versus non-for-profit) influence the nature, quality and implementation of incubation services and the way they are managed.

Rosa Grimaldi

Papers

To patent or not to patent? A survey of Italian inventors on motivations, incentives, and obstacles to university patenting

Academics' Organizational Characteristis and the Generation of Successful Business Ideas

Institutional changes and the commercialization of academic knowledge: A study of Italian universities’ patenting activities between 1965 and 2002

Exploring the Networking Characteristics of New Venture Founding Teams: A Stdy of Italian Academic Spin-off

Are Service Profiles Incubator-Specific? Results from an Empirical Investigation in Italy*