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A university spin-off launch failure: explanation by the legitimation process

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  • Valérie François

    (Université de Lille)

  • Pascal Philippart

    (Université de Lille)

Abstract

The search for legitimacy is essential for all emerging companies in order to acquire resources. However, in the case of university spin-off, legitimacy must be sought from multiple stakeholders with different expectations. It also must be dealt with in all of its dimensions. The theoretical framework of legitimacy helped us to understand the reasons why the launch of a university spin-off might fail. A longitudinal and in-depth case study provide insights into previously unknown dynamics of the legitimation process and the impact of the search for legitimacy with different stakeholders on a nascent venture. It shows in particular that the socio-political dimension of legitimacy is central in the case of university spin-offs due to their original link with the university.

Suggested Citation

  • Valérie François & Pascal Philippart, 2019. "A university spin-off launch failure: explanation by the legitimation process," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1188-1215, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:44:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10961-017-9648-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-017-9648-y
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    Cited by:

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    2. Uzi Haan & Shuli C. Shwartz & Fernando Gómez-Baquero, 2020. "A startup postdoc program as a channel for university technology transfer: the case of the Runway Startup Postdoc Program at the Jacobs Technion–Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1611-1633, December.
    3. Schaeffer, Paola Rücker & Guerrero, Maribel & Fischer, Bruno Brandão, 2021. "Mutualism in ecosystems of innovation and entrepreneurship: A bidirectional perspective on universities’ linkages," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 184-197.
    4. Marcel Rolf Pfeifer, 2022. "Human Resources in Start-Ups: Expert Interviews with Managers on the Transition of Start-Ups from Academic to Private," Merits, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-20, May.
    5. FUKUGAWA Nobuya, 2022. "Effects of the Quality of Science and Innovation on Venture Finance: Evidence from University Spinoffs in Japan," Discussion papers 22006, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    6. Messina, Lisa & Miller, Kristel & Galbraith, Brendan & Hewitt-Dundas, Nola, 2022. "A recipe for USO success? Unravelling the micro-foundations of dynamic capability building to overcome critical junctures," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University spin-off; Failure; Legitimacy; Legitimation process; University;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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