Dept. of Management & Innovation Systems
University of Salerno
Dept. of Management & Innovation Systems
University of Salerno
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 (undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral), including innovative startups and opportunity-driven projects that may leverage university resources (e.g., courses, mentoring, incubators/accelerators, competitions, and networks) (Bergmann et al., 2016; Morris et al., 2017). Through these mechanisms, universities do not only transfer technologies; they also shape mindsets, norms, and capabilities that encourage opportunity recognition, experimentation, and innovation-oriented behavior within and beyond the academic community (Busch & Barkema, 2022; Siegel & Wright, 2015; Wright et al., 2017) and to a broader diffusion of an entrepreneurial and innovation culture across campus and the region.
At the same time, contemporary grand challenges facing societies and economies (i.e., climate and sustainability transitions, digital disruption, demographic shifts, and widening inequalities) call for a wider view of the entrepreneurial university and its impact. Beyond commercialization, universities are increasingly expected to contribute to social innovation, sustainability transitions, digital transformation, inclusive entrepreneurship, and long-term regional resilience. In this context, the entrepreneurial university also expresses its “third mission” by fostering entrepreneurial culture and developing human capital. Workforce development (e.g., forming skilled, adaptable, and opportunity-oriented individuals) has become a critical pathway through which universities generate long-term impact, by nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and innovation capabilities in uncertain and complex environments (Hayter et al., 2023; Abreu & Grinevich, 2024).
Through incubators, accelerators, entrepreneurship education, and experiential learning, universities provide resources, knowledge, mentoring, and networks that shape entrepreneurial intentions and capabilities (Siegel & Wright, 2015; Wright et al., 2017). However, significant challenges remain in connecting university-based support to real-world venture outcomes, particularly regarding scaling beyond the academic setting and integration into broader innovation ecosystems.
This mini-track invites theoretical and empirical contributions that examine how universities enable technology transfer, build entrepreneurial culture, and support the creation, growth, and sustainability of innovative ventures, spanning both academic entrepreneurship (e.g., spin-offs) and student entrepreneurship. We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives and multi-level analyses exploring mechanisms that enable (or hinder) entrepreneurial outcomes and societal impact.
This mini track invites research on topics including, but not limited to:
Abreu, M., & Grinevich, V. (2024). The entrepreneurial university: Strategies, processes, and competing goals. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 49(6), 1991–2034. doi:10.1007/s10961-024-10085-7
Bergmann, H., Hundt, C., & Sternberg, R. (2016). What makes student entrepreneurs? On the relevance (and irrelevance) of the university and the regional context for student start-ups. Small Business Economics, 47(1), 53–76. doi:10.1007/s11187-016-9700-6
Burbridge, M., & Morrison, D. (2021). A systematic literature review of partnership development at the university–industry–government nexus. Sustainability, 13(24), 13780. doi:10.3390/su132413780
Busch, C., & Barkema, H. (2022). Planned luck: How incubators can facilitate serendipity for nascent entrepreneurs through fostering network embeddedness. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 46(4), 884–919. doi:10.1177/1042258720915798
Etzkowitz, H. (1993). Technology transfer: The second academic revolution. Technology Access Report, 6(7), 7–9.
Guerrero, M., Siegel, D. S., Terjesen, S., Feldman, M. P., & Lockett, A. (2024). Assessing the impact of university innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems: Managerial and policy implications. Academy of Management Perspectives, 38(4), 441–452. doi:10.5465/amp.2024.0282
Hayter, C. S., Link, A. N., & Schaffer, M. (2023). Identifying the emergence of academic entrepreneurship within the technology transfer literature. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 48(5), 1800–1812. doi:10.1007/s10961-023-10026-w
Heirman, A., & Clarysse, B. (2004). How and why do research-based start-ups differ at founding? A resource-based configurational perspective. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 29(3–4), 247–268. doi:10.1023/B:JOTT.0000034122.88495.0d
Klofsten, M., Fayolle, A., Guerrero, M., Mian, S., Urbano, D., & Wright, M. (2019). The entrepreneurial university as driver for economic growth and social change—Key strategic challenges. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 141, 149–158. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2018.12.004
Morris, M. H., Shirokova, G., & Tsukanova, T. (2017). Student entrepreneurship and the university ecosystem: A multi-country empirical exploration. European Journal of International Management, 11(1), 65–85. doi:10.1504/EJIM.2017.081251
Shane, S., & Stuart, T. (2002). Organizational endowments and the performance of university start-ups. Management Science, 48(1), 154–170. doi:10.1287/mnsc.48.1.154.14280
Siegel, D. S., & Wright, M. (2015). Academic entrepreneurship: Time for a rethink? British Journal of Management, 26(4), 582–595. doi:10.1111/1467-8551.12116
Wright, M., Siegel, D. S., & Mustar, P. (2017). An emerging ecosystem for student start-ups. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(4), 909–922. doi:10.1007/s10961-017-9558-z
