University spin-off creation in Canada, Spain and Portugal: a comparative analysis from the perspective of the national systems of entrepreneurship

Abstract

This paper analyses university-industry technology transfer (UITT) and academic spin-off creation in Canada, and Spain and Portugal. The national systems of entrepreneurship approach are adopted in this analysis. It is argued that the possibility of finding entrepreneurial capabilities amongst scientists contributes to successfully transferring technology from universities to industry. The process of UITT and spin-off creation is characterised by following a non-linear trajectory. This paper stresses the importance of a supportive incentives policy at universities to successfully advance the process of technology transfer. A system dynamics (SD) model of UITT and academic spin-off creation from the perspective of the systems of entrepreneurship are developed in this paper. The SD approach allows including in the same analysis feedback effects, time delays and other non-linear effects characterising the process of UITT and university spin-off creation.