Objective: To assess whether conditions inherent to Brazilian universities constitute a necessary condition for the creation of university spin-offs (USOs).
Methodology/Approach: We apply the Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) approach, using data from the Entrepreneurial University Ranking 2021 report, which encompasses 126 Brazilian universities. We select nine variables that represent entrepreneurial university conditions and one variable that represents USOs.
Originality/Relevance: Most studies on academic entrepreneurship rely on symmetric methods focused on average effects and facilitating factors, overlooking whether such conditions are indispensable. This study addresses this gap by identifying structural constraints that limit spin-off creation, contributing to explanations of empirical heterogeneity.
Main results: The findings indicate that only a limited set of conditions operates as necessary conditions. Specifically, science and technology parks and baseline levels of scientific production emerge as non-compensatory bottlenecks. Other factors – such as entrepreneurial culture, community outreach activities, university networks, general physical infrastructure, and patent production – do not constitute necessary conditions.
Theoretical/Methodological contributions: The study advances literature by distinguishing necessary condition from facilitating factors and by demonstrating the value of necessary condition analysis in academic entrepreneurship research.
Social/Management contributions: The findings suggests that public policies should prioritize the removal structural bottlenecks rather than focusing exclusively on enabling environments.
Objective: To assess whether conditions inherent to Brazilian universities constitute a necessary condition for the creation of university spin-offs (USOs). Methodology/Approach: We apply the Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) approach, using data from the Entrepreneurial University Ranking 2021 report, which encompasses 126 Brazilian universities. We select nine variables that represent entrepreneurial university conditions and one variable that represents USOs. Originality/Relevance: Most studies on academic entrepreneurship rely on symmetric methods focused on average effects and facilitating factors, overlooking whether such conditions are indispensable. This study addresses this gap by identifying structural constraints that limit spin-off creation, contributing to explanations of empirical heterogeneity. Main results: The findings indicate that only a limited set of conditions operates as necessary conditions. Specifically, science and technology parks and baseline levels of scientific production emerge as non-compensatory bottlenecks. Other factors – such as entrepreneurial culture, community outreach activities, university networks, general physical infrastructure, and patent production – do not constitute necessary conditions. Theoretical/Methodological contributions: The study advances literature by distinguishing necessary condition from facilitating factors and by demonstrating the value of necessary condition analysis in academic entrepreneurship research. Social/Management contributions: The findings suggests that public policies should prioritize the removal structural bottlenecks rather than focusing exclusively on enabling environments. Read More