Heterogeneity in PhD entrepreneurship

Strategic alignment of institutional, organisational, and individual factors

Bibliographic Data

ID14868894
AuthorsAlessandro Muscio (0000-0001-5186-2522, University of Foggia, corresponding author), Fumi Kitagawa (0000-0003-0013-372X, University of Birmingham)
Year2025
Volume64
Issue2
Pages489-510
Publication date2025-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSmall Business Economics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0921-898X • E-ISSN: 1573-0913
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11187-024-00916-0
OpenAlexW4393150541
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited140

Much of the existing research on PhD entrepreneurship is focused on Academic Spin-Offs (ASOs) within the parent institution’s formal intellectual property (IP) structure. Cross-level analysis of a survey administered to 23,500 PhD students in Italy shows the heterogeneity of PhD students’ entrepreneurial activities, which, in addition to ASOs, include start-ups, corporate spin-offs and other types of businesses. We examine the types of drivers that matter most for different forms of PhD entrepreneurial ventures. Our findings reveal two forces at play: a technology-push model where PhD students rely on IP and support from the parent university, and a demand-led model that involves support from industry and sources of external finance. This study highlights the strategic alignment among the determinants of PhD entrepreneurship at the micro, meso and macro levels. These determinants include the individual PhD student’s choices, the interactions with different stakeholders and reconciliation of the tensions represented by the organizational and institutional resources and infrastructures

Business · Business administration · Economic geography · Economics · Entrepreneurship · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Innovation Policy and RD · Private Equity and Venture Capital

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