Systematic Review on Academic Spin-Offs: Challenges, Impacts, and Success Factors

Academic spin-offs (ASOs) are one of the main means of relationship between universities and the market. ASOs transform scientific research results into products, services, or processes that can be commercialized, promoting the transfer of technology between the academic and industrial sectors. This study aims to identify institutional, organizational, and policy-related aspects and drivers influencing the use of ASOs as technology transfer mechanisms. The article systematically reviews the literature on ASOs, aiming to explore concepts, types, creation processes, barriers, and success factors for these initiatives from 2010 to 2023. The search was conducted in the Scopus database, selected according to the following criteria: article format, publication in a scientific journal, and written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. The analysis resulted in 82 articles published in 47 journals, which revealed different types of ASOs and creation models, as well as determining factors, such as institutional support and external context, that impacted their formation and success. The study suggests that ASOs can contribute significantly to technological innovation and economic development, but they face challenges such as cultural barriers, lack of funding, and university–market integration.