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Start-ups among university employees: The influence of legitimacy, human capital and social capital

Author

  • Tomas Karlsson
  • Caroline Wigren

Summary, in English

Abstract in Undetermined
Using a sample of 7,260 university employees, we investigate how legitimacy, social and human capital influence the employees’ start-up propensity. We find that scientific legitimacy, as measured by the number of recently published peer reviewed scientific articles, and conference papers accepted had no significant effect. Scientific legitimacy measured as publications in non-peer review journals even had a negative effect. Popular legitimacy showed mixed results. Measured as number of articles in popular science publications showed positive correlations and other public media appearances had a non significant effect on start-up propensity. Individuals who are older and have higher level of human capital, measured as level of education are less likely to start firms. We also found that, people with more social capital, such as contact with external product development teams are more likely to start new firms. Taken together, the findings suggest that activities spanning the university-business divide increase the start-up propensity, while within university activities had no, or negative effects on the propensity. Consequently, universities interested in encouraging their employees to start firms should focus their attention on creating spanning activities rather than improving conditions for within university tenure.

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

297-312

Publication/Series

Journal of Technology Transfer

Volume

37

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
  • Business Administration

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0892-9912