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Processes in collaborative entrepreneurship: a longitudinal case study of how multiple actors exploit a radically new opportunity

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Abstract

In this longitudinal case study, the authors integrate the theory on social movement with the entrepreneurship literature on opportunity discovery, evaluation, and exploitation. They construct a model on collaborative entrepreneurial processes in which multiple partners are involved in identifying, forming, and exploiting an opportunity. Three interdependent subprocesses are identified: (1) the opportunity conceptualization dialogue, (2) resource mobilization and, (3) legitimacy building, which significantly contribute to our understanding of how individuals across different organizations become engaged in collaborative entrepreneurial processes. The model of collaborative entrepreneurial processes complements traditional models of the entrepreneurial process, which place the individual entrepreneur at the center of the process and does not consider group mobilization processes in which the actors aim to be creative and innovative in collaborating with actors from other organizations or firms.

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Notes

  1. The Vinnväxt programme takes the form of a competition for businesses in various Swedish regions. Its aim is to promote sustainable growth by developing internationally competitive research and innovation environments in specific growth fields. The winning regions receive funding of up to SEK 10 million per year for 8 years. The objective is that the winners will become internationally competitive in their fields within this period. A prerequisite for the programme is the players from the private, public, and research sectors, as well as from the political sphere participate actively.

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Correspondence to Joakim Wincent.

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Andresen, E., Lundberg, H. & Wincent, J. Processes in collaborative entrepreneurship: a longitudinal case study of how multiple actors exploit a radically new opportunity. Int Entrep Manag J 10, 713–726 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-014-0304-9

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