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The entrepreneurial motivation in academia: a multidimensional construct

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Abstract

In this paper we propose a model to analyse the motivation of academic entrepreneurs that comprises six dimensions: personal, relating to the entrepreneurial opportunity, to scientific knowledge, to the availability of resources, to the incubator organization, and to the social environment. The model is tested based on information from a survey administered to 152 Spanish academic entrepreneurs. Our results show that entrepreneurial opportunity is not part of the entrepreneurial motivation, but is of the utmost importance to academic entrepreneurs. Also, we find the scientific knowledge is the main driver of entrepreneurial activity in the academia.

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Notes

  1. In Spain, technology transfer activities in universities emerged in the 1990s making academic spin-offs an incipient phenomenon. Before 2000, there were only 17 spin-offs; since then there has been a significant increase in the number of academic spin-offs established, e.g. by 2006 there was a total of 530 spin-offs in Spain (RedOtri 2007).

  2. The assessment scales process recommends assessing nomological validity. Scales show nomological validity of the constructs if the construct being measured is capable of demonstrating relationships with other constructs which, conceptually or theoretically, should exist (Vila et al. 2000). Accordingly, to assess this kind of validity it is necessary to have scales for several constructs, which is not the case here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Engineering Department, University of Antioquia, Calle 67 No. 53-108 Bloque 21, Medellín, Colombia

    Silvia T. Morales-Gualdrón

  2. Ingenio (CSIC-UPV), Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management, Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    Antonio Gutiérrez-Gracia

  3. Instituto Universitario de Economía Social y Cooperativa (IUDESCOOP), University of Valencia, Avenida Tarongers s/n, Edificio Departamental Oriental, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    Salvador Roig Dobón

Authors
  1. Silvia T. Morales-Gualdrón
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  2. Antonio Gutiérrez-Gracia
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  3. Salvador Roig Dobón
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Correspondence to Silvia T. Morales-Gualdrón.

Additional information

This paper is the outcome of Project GV PRE 2008/0176 funded by The Generalitat Valenciana (Government of the Valencia Region), Spain.

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Morales-Gualdrón, S.T., Gutiérrez-Gracia, A. & Roig Dobón, S. The entrepreneurial motivation in academia: a multidimensional construct. Int Entrep Manag J 5, 301–317 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-009-0113-8

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