Skip to main content
Log in

Creating Entrepreneurial Universities in the UK: Applying Entrepreneurship Theory to Practice

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the modern knowledge economy higher educational institutions are being required to operate more entrepreneurially, commercialising the results of their research and spinning out new, knowledge-based enterprises. Like most large organisations, particularly those operating in the public sector, they are not traditionally suited to this role and often face the same sort of barriers to intrapreneurial activity as their counterparts in the private sector. In this note, the theories of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship development are used to identify what needs to be done and a case example is provided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • I. Ajzen (1991) ArticleTitleThe Theory of Planned Behaviour Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes 50 179–211 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albert, P. and L. Gaynor, 2003, National Contexts, Incubator Families and Trends in Incubation – Views from Four Countries. Paper presented at the 48th ICSB World Conference, Belfast

  • S. Birley (2002) ArticleTitleUniversities, Academics, and Spinout Companies: Lessons from Imperial International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education 1 IssueID1 133–153

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Brooksbank B. Thomas (2001) ArticleTitleAn Assessment of Higher Education Spin-off Enterprise in Wales Industry and Higher Education 15 415–420

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Etzkowitz (2003) ArticleTitleResearch Groups as ‘Quasi-firms’: The Invention of the Entrepreneurial University Research Policy 32 IssueID1 109–121 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00009-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A.E. Guskin M.B. Marcy (2002) Facing the Future in the United States. Faculty work, Student Learning and Fundamental Reform G. Williams (Eds) The Enterprising University: Reform, Excellence and Equity The Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press Buckingham

    Google Scholar 

  • D.B. Hay F. Butt D.A. Kirby (2002) Academics as Entrepreneurs in a UK University G. Williams (Eds) The Enterprising University: Reform, Excellence and Equity The Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press Buckingham

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Kenney W.R. Goe (2004) ArticleTitleThe Role of Social Embededness in Professorial Entrepreneurship: A Comparison of Electrical Engineering and Computer science at UC Berkeley and Stanford Research Policy 33 IssueID5 691–705 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.respol.2003.11.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Laukkanen (2003) ArticleTitleExploring Academic Entrepreneurship: Drivers and Tensions of University-based Business Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 10 IssueID4 372–382 Occurrence Handle10.1108/14626000310504684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I. McNay (2002) The E-factors and Organisation Cultures in British Universities G. Williams (Eds) The Enterprising University: Reform, Excellence and Equity The Society for research into Higher Education and Open University Press Buckingham

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Pinchot (1985) Intrapreneuring Harper and Row New York

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Quinn (1996) Deep Change: Disovering the Leader Within Jossey-Bass San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • E.B. Roberts (1991) Entrepreneurs in High technology: Lessons from MIT and Beyond Oxford University New York

    Google Scholar 

  • N.S. Segal (1986) ArticleTitleUniversities and Technological Entrepreneurship in Britain: Some Implications of the Cambridge Phenomenon Technovation 4 IssueID3 189–205 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0166-4972(86)90012-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameUNICO (2003) Annual Survey on University Technology Transfer Activities The University Companies Association Lichfield

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameUniversities UK (2000) A forward Look – Highlights of our Corporate Plan 2001–2004 NumberInSeries9 Universities UK London

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Williams (2002) The Enterprising University: Reform, Excellence and Equity The Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press Buckingham

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Wright (2004) Spin-outs from Universities: Strategy, Financing and Monitoring Centre for Management Buy-Out research, Nottingham University Business School Nottingham

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Kirby.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kirby, D.A. Creating Entrepreneurial Universities in the UK: Applying Entrepreneurship Theory to Practice. J Technol Transfer 31, 599–603 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-006-9061-4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-006-9061-4

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation