Locational dynamics of academic spin-offs: Evidence from brazil

Abstract

Universities can be perceived as sources of innovation, where academic spin-offs is one of its main vehicles. One of the main points of attention in this debate concerns the pivotal role of universities within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Drawing from this background, this research investigates the locational dynamics of academic spin-offs in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, as well as its association with the respective alma maters of entrepreneurs. 1082 entrepreneurial projects were analyzed covering the period 1998-2017. While research-intensive public universities play a leading role in the generation and retention of entrepreneurs at the local level, the distance from developed markets reduces the concentration of spin-offs in the region. This finding carries implications for the notion that university campuses can leverage levels of regional development, since the causal relationships in this process seem to be tied to elements that are endogenous but also exogenous to the university.