Wageningen University Dissertation

Victor E. Scholten

Academic spin-offs are entrepreneurial ventures typically founded by one or more scientists who have participated in an academic research programme. By 'spinning off' scientific findings and transferring them into commercial opportunities these ventures contribute to a country's prosperity, and that of the knowledge institution. To achieve growth, four factors are identified as being crucial to early success: the team's experience and skills; the spin-offs characteristics; its network; and the involvement of the knowledge institution.

This volume discusses the influence of these factors on the early growth of Dutch academic spin-offs. These spin-offs are involved in developing knowledge that is rooted in science - but future commercial opportunities lie in the business world. Networks are important for bridging the gap between academia and the business world and in identifying possible commercial opportunities to broker the knowledge and resources on both sides. Management experience can be liability to a spin-off's early growth but start-up experience is beneficial. Support from the knowledge institution can have both positive and negative effects on early growth: it can lead to a spin-off being too internally oriented, while external contact with the business world is crucial for growth and future success.  »  hide abstract