National Contexts and R&D Transference: A Cross-Country Analysis of Entrepreneurial Perceptions and Policy Impact

Abstract

This study aims to assess whether country-level conditions traditionally associated with fostering entrepreneurship (such as digitization, economic climate, and government policies) explain the extent to which R&D leads to new commercial opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s National Expert Survey, this study applies factorial analysis of variance models to evaluate the single and interaction effects of multiple categorical variables on R&D transference. Three models are constructed to test the significance of country: entrepreneurship-supportive factors, entrepreneurs’ recommendations, and pandemic-related government actions. The results reveal that country location consistently and significantly explains variance in R&D transference. In contrast, traditional entrepreneurship-fostering factors are not found to be statistically significant. Pandemic-related government actions also fail to demonstrate measurable explanatory power on R&D transference. These findings suggest that broader national contexts, rather than specific entrepreneurship-supportive conditions, are more critical in shaping R&D outcomes. Policymakers should reconsider the assumption that general entrepreneurship support mechanisms automatically enhance R&D transference. Instead, targeted interventions may be more effective. Entrepreneurs and investors should evaluate national contexts beyond perceived support factors when pursuing R&D-based innovation. The study underscores the need for context-sensitive strategies in fostering innovation and challenges one-size-fits-all approaches to entrepreneurship policy.