Institutional Approach to Academic Entrepreneurship and University Technology Commercialization

Abstract

In recent years, high-tech industries that grew out of university- based start-ups or deeply entrenched in academic science have been an important driver of economic growth and life improvement for developed and emerging economies across the globe. Prior literature on academic entrepreneurship and technology commercialization has shown the complexity of the phenomenon and points to factors across macro-, meso-, and micro-levels. This literature, though substantial in volume, lacks overarching theoretical insights that integrate findings from different contexts and mechanisms at different levels. Recent developments from the new institutional theory from organizational sociology provided theoretical tools for this task. In this symposium, we bring together a group of scholars that apply the institutional approach to the study of academic entrepreneurship and technology commercialization, with the aim of providing theoretical insights for this topical area and enriching institutional theories as well. Scaffolds and Intermediaries Presenter: Daniel Erian Armanios; Engineering & Public Policy (EPP), Carnegie Mellon U. Presenter: Charles Eric Eesley; Stanford U. Protecting Scientists from Gordon Gekko Presenter: Markus Perkmann; Imperial College London Presenter: Maureen McKelvey; U. of Gothenburg Presenter: Nelson Phillips; Imperial College London How Prospect of Status Change Affect Licensing of University Technology Overtime in China? Presenter: Xirong Shen; Cornell U. Presenter: Ximing Yin; Tsinghua U. Presenter: Wesley Sine; Cornell U. Do University Entrepreneurship Programs Promote Entrepreneurship? Presenter: Yong Suk Lee; Stanford U. Presenter: Charles Eric Eesley; Stanford U. Distinguishing Between the Roles of Faculty and PhDs in Academic Entrepreneurship Presenter: Michael Roach; Cornell