The emergence of a university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem

Abstract

This thesis investigates the emergence of a university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem (U-BEE). Research on universities as entrepreneurial ecosystems is emerging, and more research is called for to investigate different ecosystem components and interaction mechanisms within an ecosystem. This study addresses this need by providing a nuanced understanding of the perspectives of a variety of ecosystem actors from different institutional backgrounds, and therefore with different motives to engage in U-BEE. The main objective of this research is to understand the emergence of a university-based entrepreneurship ecosystem (U-BEE) from the viewpoint of different actors. There are four research questions posed in this thesis: 1) How do the expectations of policymakers shape the emergent U-BEEs? 2) What are the motives of different actors to engage in UBEEs? 3) How do different actors engage with the emerging U-BEEs? 4) How do different actors perceive the university as a catalyst for entrepreneurship? This thesis utilises a mixed methods approach by applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods. In order to gain a holistic and nuanced understanding of the emerging U-BEE, the empirical part of this thesis is largely based on a case-study methodology. The case studies are complemented by quantitative research based on a large student survey.

The findings of this thesis indicate that even if a university highlights a broad range of entrepreneurial actions in its strategic mission, entrepreneurship tends to be associated with research commercialisation. Among university actors, the decoupling of entrepreneurial activities stems from this narrow interpretation of entrepreneurship. This viewpoint further enhances the fragmentation of entrepreneurial activities and the formation of distinct groups that operate in their own silos. Fragmentation and a lack of interaction between different stakeholders lead to a weak U-BEE in terms of network strength. A U-BEE can be strengthened by engaging different actors in the U-BEE and by clearly communicating the university’s entrepreneurial mission to internal and external stakeholders.