INTELLECTUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS CAPITALIZATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND PATTERNS OF ITS EMERGENCE

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study into the phenomenon of intellectual entrepreneurship and the patterns of its emergence as understood through the experience of individuals. The research is of qualitative nature, and the results are based on secondary research and interviews of 16 intellectual entrepreneurs of Latvia. It provides a model of intellectual entrepreneurship, which is defined as capitalization of knowledge in an innovative environment. It also presents four patterns of emergence of intellectual entrepreneurship in Latvia; these include patterns characteristic of a transition period from command to a free market economy and that occurring during times of crises, and ones relevant to a stable economic environment. The paper contributes to the modern theory of entrepreneurship where the concept of intellectual entrepreneurship is used, but with different interpretations, and until recently had not been systematically studied.