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Are incubators and science parks effective for research spin-offs? Evidence from Italy

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  • Elisa Salvador
  • Secondo Rolfo

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increasing focus on the research spin-off phenomenon. Spin-off firms are recognised as an important opportunity for universities. Notwithstanding the interest on this field at European and US levels, few analyses have focused on Italy. The goal of this paper is to contribute to the literature on research spin-offs by providing original empirical evidence on spin-offs from Italian research. More specifically, attention is focused on the relationship between science parks/incubators and spin-offs at regional level. The results of a linear regression model highlight that the higher the number of host structures the higher the number of spin-offs. This analysis is completed with the results of a questionnaire: 65 on-park and 90 off-park respondents provided similar answers with few conclusive differences. The debate about the effectiveness of incubators and science parks remains open in Italy (and elsewhere). Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Salvador & Secondo Rolfo, 2011. "Are incubators and science parks effective for research spin-offs? Evidence from Italy," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 38(3), pages 170-184, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:38:y:2011:i:3:p:170-184
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.3152/016502611X12849792159191
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    1. Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil & Salvador Pérez-Canto & Paolo Landoni, 2023. "The effect of science and technology parks on tenant firms: a literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1489-1531, August.
    2. Laura Lecluyse & Mirjam Knockaert & André Spithoven, 2019. "The contribution of science parks: a literature review and future research agenda," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 559-595, April.
    3. Ilaria Mariotti & Elisa Salvador, 2015. "On-park and off-park research spin-offs: some insights from an empirical investigation on Italy," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 19(5/6), pages 405-422.
    4. Kumar, R. Ramesh & Malarkodi, M. & Uma, K., 2021. "Factor Analysis of Service Expectation of Farmer Producer Organization from Agribusiness Incubator," Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, vol. 39(10).
    5. Fidelis A. Ayatse & Nguwasen Kwahar & Akuraun S. Iyortsuun, 2017. "Business incubation process and firm performance: an empirical review," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Daniel Prokop & Piers Thompson, 2023. "Defining networks in entrepreneurial ecosystems: the openness of ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 517-538, August.
    7. Isabel Diez-Vial & Angeles Montoro-Sanchez, 2017. "Research evolution in science parks and incubators: foundations and new trends," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 110(3), pages 1243-1272, March.
    8. Lecluyse, Laura & Knockaert, Mirjam, 2020. "Disentangling satisfaction of tenants on science parks: A multiple case study in Belgium," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    9. Secondo Rolfo & Ugo Finardi, 2014. "University Third mission in Italy: organization, faculty attitude and academic specialization," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 472-486, June.
    10. Mohan, Vidit & Chinchwadkar, Rohan & Pratap, Sankalp, 2025. "Embedding nascent entrepreneurs in incubators: Examining conflicts in technology venture creation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    11. Syed Hasan & H. Allen Klaiber & Ian Sheldon, 2020. "The impact of science parks on small- and medium-sized enterprises’ productivity distributions: the case of Taiwan and South Korea," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 135-153, January.
    12. Nobuya FUKUGAWA & Kuo-I CHANG, 2025. "Science Parks in Taiwan and Their Value-adding Contributions," Discussion papers 25005, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    13. Hans Löfsten & Magnus Klofsten, 2024. "Exploring dyadic relationships between Science Parks and universities: bridging theory and practice," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1914-1934, October.
    14. Prokop, Daniel, 2021. "University entrepreneurial ecosystems and spinoff companies: Configurations, developments and outcomes," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    15. Elisa Salvador, 2012. "Italian Science Parks And Incubators: Some Considerations Arising From A Questionnaire Investigation On Research Spin-Off Firms," Post-Print hal-02093934, HAL.
    16. Francisco Javier Miranda & Antonio Chamorro & Sergio Rubio, 2018. "Re-thinking university spin-off: a critical literature review and a research agenda," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 1007-1038, August.
    17. Corrocher, Nicoletta & Lamperti, Francesco & Mavilia, Roberto, 2019. "Do science parks sustain or trigger innovation? Empirical evidence from Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 140-151.
    18. Reham Anjum & Norizah Binti Muhamd Mustamil & Tey Lian Seng, 2025. "Exploring the Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation in Academic Spin-off Formation: A Systematic Review," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(5), pages 17328-17365, November.
    19. Sylvain Bureau & Elisa Salvador & Jacqueline Fendt, 2012. "Small firms and the growth stage: can entrepreneurship education programmes be supportive?," Post-Print hal-02530098, HAL.
    20. Kameliya Deyanova & Nataliia Brehmer & Artur Lapidus & Victor Tiberius & Steve Walsh, 2022. "Hatching start-ups for sustainable growth: a bibliometric review on business incubators," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(7), pages 2083-2109, October.
    21. Elisa Salvador & Pierre-Jean Benghozi, 2015. "Research spin-off firms: does the university involvement really matter?," Post-Print hal-02091015, HAL.
    22. Francesco Lamperti & Roberto Mavilia & Simona Castellini, 2017. "The role of Science Parks: a puzzle of growth, innovation and R&D investments," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 158-183, February.

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