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University Spillovers: Strategic Location and New Firm Performance

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  • Audretsch, David
  • Lehmann, Erik E
  • Warning, Susanne

Abstract

This study examines the impact of location choice as a firm strategy to access knowledge spillovers from universities. Based on a large data-set of young high-technology start-ups publicly listed in Germany, this Paper tests the propositions that not only geographic proximity to the university matters, but also that the degree to which location choice matters is shaped by the field and type of knowledge spillover. The role of geographic proximity as a location strategy is more important in accessing and absorbing knowledge spillovers from publications in scholarly journals in the social sciences than in the natural sciences. By contrast, geographic proximity is more important in accessing human capital embodied in university graduates in the natural sciences than in the social sciences. The results suggest that location proximity to a university effects firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Audretsch, David & Lehmann, Erik E & Warning, Susanne, 2003. "University Spillovers: Strategic Location and New Firm Performance," CEPR Discussion Papers 3837, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3837
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    Cited by:

    1. Beate Henschel & Carsten Pohl, 2004. "Auswirkungen des demographischen Wandels auf den Arbeitsmarkt in Sachsen : Analyse und Gegenstrategien," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 11(03), pages 05-17, June.
    2. Christian Keuschnigg, 2003. "Public Policy and Venture Capital Backed Innovation," CESifo Working Paper Series 1066, CESifo.
    3. Aleksander Aristovnik & Alka Obadic, 2011. "The Funding And Efficiency Of Higher Education In Croatia And Slovenia: A Non-Parametric Comparison With Eu And Oecd Countries," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp1007, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    4. Sauer, Thomas & Stoetzer, Matthias-Wolfgang & Gerlach, Andrea, 2007. "Forms and regional distribution of knowledge transfer by German universities," Jena Contributions to Economic Research 2007,3, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    5. Gerlach, Andrea & Sauer, Thomas & Stoetzer, Matthias-Wolfgang, 2005. "Formen und regionale Verteilung des Wissenstransfers von Hochschulen: Eine repräsentative Fallstudie für Jena," Jena Contributions to Economic Research 2005,1, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    6. Dirk Czarnitzki & Hanna Hottenrott, 2009. "Are Local Milieus The Key To Innovation Performance?," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1), pages 81-112, February.
    7. Stoetzer, Matthias-Wolfgang & Pfeil, Silko & Kaps, Katharina & Sauer, Thomas, 2011. "Regional dispersion of cooperation activities as success factor of innovation oriented SME," Jena Contributions to Economic Research 2011,4, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
    8. Marcus Dittrich & Wolfgang Gerstenberger & Beate Henschel & Gunther Markwardt & Carsten Pohl & Heinz Schmalholz & Marcel Thum, 2004. "Demographische Entwicklung im Freistaat Sachsen : Analyse und Strategien zum Bevölkerungsrückgang auf dem Arbeitsmarkt ; Gutachten im Auftrag der Sächsischen Staatskanzlei," ifo Dresden Studien, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 36, July.
    9. Beate Henschel & Carsten Pohl, 2004. "The effects of demographic change on the labour market in Saxony – analyses and counter strategies," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 57(14), pages 05-14, July.
    10. Alka Obadić & Aleksander Aristovnik, 2011. "Relative efficiency of higher education in Croatia and Slovenia: an international comparison," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(30), pages 362-376, June.
    11. Aristovnik, Aleksander & Obadić, Alka, 2011. "The funding and efficiency of higher education in Croatia and Slovenia: a non-parametric comparison," MPRA Paper 31466, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. DAUTEL Vincent & WALTHER Olivier, 2011. "The geography of innovation in the Luxembourg metropolitan region: an intra-regional approach," LISER Working Paper Series 2011-38, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    13. Christian Schröder, 2010. "Regionale und unternehmensspezifische Faktoren einer hohen Wachstumsdynamik von IKT Unternehmen in Deutschland," EIIW Discussion paper disbei185, Universitätsbibliothek Wuppertal, University Library.
    14. Heger, Diana & Rinawi, Miriam & Veith, Tobias, 2011. "The effect of broadband infrastructure on entrepreneurial activities: The case of Germany," ZEW Discussion Papers 11-081, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    15. Alan Hughes, 2003. "Knowledge Transfer, Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth: Some Reflections and Implications for Policy in the Netherlands," Working Papers wp273, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University spillover; Strategic firm location; Entreprenuership;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General

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