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European universities seeking entrepreneurial paths: the moderating effect of contextual variables on the entrepreneurial orientation-performance relationship

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  • Riviezzo, Angelo
  • Santos, Susana C.
  • Liñán, Francisco
  • Napolitano, Maria Rosaria
  • Fusco, Floriana

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between the entrepreneurial orientation of university departments and their entrepreneurial performance, in terms of academic entrepreneurship (spin-offs) and knowledge transfer (patents) outcomes. Moreover, we investigate how internal and external contextual variables interact in this relation. Using survey data from 294 heads of university departments in four different European countries (Italy, Spain, UK and Portugal), we found that entrepreneurial orientation is positively related to the number of spin-offs generated and that this relation is positively moderated by the departments' age and size, as well as the country GDP per capita and R&D expenditure. Surprisingly, entrepreneurial orientation is negatively associated with the number of patents. We further explore the moderating role of contextual variables, discussing our results.

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  • Riviezzo, Angelo & Santos, Susana C. & Liñán, Francisco & Napolitano, Maria Rosaria & Fusco, Floriana, 2019. "European universities seeking entrepreneurial paths: the moderating effect of contextual variables on the entrepreneurial orientation-performance relationship," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 232-248.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:141:y:2019:i:c:p:232-248
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2018.10.011
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    5. Duong Cong Doanh & Tomasz Bernat & Nguyen Thanh Hieu & Nguyen Bich Ngoc & Nguyen Thi Phuong Linh, 2021. "Academic Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Research of Invention Commercialisation," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2021(4), pages 33-62.
    6. Mariem Khadhraoui & Michel Plaisent & Lassaad Lakhal & Bernard Prosper, 2019. "The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Spin-Offs’ Performance: A Cross-Cultural Study," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(3), pages 21582440198, July.
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