Entrepreneurial Universities as Drivers of Innovation: From Technology Transfer to Broader Impact

Universities are increasingly central actors in regional innovation ecosystems, evolving from traditional knowledge institutions into proactive drivers of economic and societal progress (Klofsten et al., 2019; Guerrero et al., 2024). A cornerstone of this shift is the valorization and commercialization of research, often enabled through “triple helix” collaborations among universities, industry, and government (Etzkowitz, 1993) through which universities create pathways for research to directly influence society (Burbridge, 2021).

Academic entrepreneurship, and especially academic spin-offs, remains a prominent mechanism through which scientific knowledge is translated into market and societal value (Shane & Stuart, 2002; Heirman & Clarysse, 2004). Alongside spin-offs, universities increasingly contribute to student entrepreneurship, defined as the entrepreneurial action and venture creation initiated and led by enrolled students, including innovative startups and opportunity-driven projects that leverage university resources (Bergmann et al., 2016; Morris et al., 2017). Through these mechanisms, universities shape mindsets and capabilities that encourage innovation-oriented behavior and a broader diffusion of an entrepreneurial culture across regions.

At the same time, contemporary grand challenges facing societies and economies (i.e., **climate and sustainability transitions**, digital disruption) call for a wider view of the entrepreneurial university. Beyond commercialization, universities are expected to contribute to social innovation and **long-term regional resilience**. Workforce development has become a critical pathway through which universities generate impact, nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets in uncertain and complex environments (Hayter et al., 2023; Abreu & Grinevich, 2024).