TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge relationships of university spin-off firms
T2 - Contrasting dynamics in global reach
AU - Taheri, Mozhdeh
AU - van Geenhuizen, Marina
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - This article provides an attempt to better understand the establishment of international knowledge relationships, including changes over time. Internationalization of young high-tech firms is strongly required given the drive for upscaling technology solutions and given the increased global spread of knowledge centers. To increase understanding, a framework of conditions of capability formation in internationalization is developed and measured using a sample of 105 university spin-off firms in Northwest Europe. In early years, 62% of these firms employed knowledge relationships abroad, often crossing continents. The main capabilities in this stage tend to be connected to education (PhD) and market training, innovation activity at practical level, and diversity in preceding domestic networks. Subsequent changes on the firm level show a somewhat stronger internationalization, 74%, associated with other capabilities compared to early years, mainly derived in previous internationalization, pre-start work experience and innovation activity at an advanced level. However, the results also point to a ‘problematic’ segment of firms, including shrinking patterns and persistent absence of internationalization. To summarize, we observe inertia as well as (highly) dynamic patterns of knowledge relationships abroad, with important implications for management and policy.
AB - This article provides an attempt to better understand the establishment of international knowledge relationships, including changes over time. Internationalization of young high-tech firms is strongly required given the drive for upscaling technology solutions and given the increased global spread of knowledge centers. To increase understanding, a framework of conditions of capability formation in internationalization is developed and measured using a sample of 105 university spin-off firms in Northwest Europe. In early years, 62% of these firms employed knowledge relationships abroad, often crossing continents. The main capabilities in this stage tend to be connected to education (PhD) and market training, innovation activity at practical level, and diversity in preceding domestic networks. Subsequent changes on the firm level show a somewhat stronger internationalization, 74%, associated with other capabilities compared to early years, mainly derived in previous internationalization, pre-start work experience and innovation activity at an advanced level. However, the results also point to a ‘problematic’ segment of firms, including shrinking patterns and persistent absence of internationalization. To summarize, we observe inertia as well as (highly) dynamic patterns of knowledge relationships abroad, with important implications for management and policy.
KW - Capability formation
KW - Inertia
KW - International knowledge relationships
KW - Spatial reach
KW - University spin-off firms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064898221&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.techfore.2019.03.013
DO - 10.1016/j.techfore.2019.03.013
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85064898221
SN - 0040-1625
VL - 144
SP - 193
EP - 204
JO - Technological Forecasting and Social Change
JF - Technological Forecasting and Social Change
ER -