Urban universities as a start-up ecosystem: the case of academic spin-offs in Milan

Landoni, M. (2020) Urban universities as a start-up ecosystem: the case of academic spin-offs in Milan. In: Novotny, A., Rasmussen, E., Clausen, T. H. and Wiklund, J. (eds.) Research Handbook on Start-Up Incubation Ecosystems. Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, UK, pp. 402-417. ISBN 9781788973526 (doi: 10.4337/9781788973533.00031)

Abstract

Universities are research ecosystems that generate entrepreneurial opportunities. Universities adopt supporting measures to foster entrepreneurship and academic spin-offs. This chapter explores the universities within the city of Milan as an urban ecosystem that provides different interaction and supporting practices. The sample includes 74 academic spin-offs from four universities; semi-structured interviews to technology transfer officers; and answers from 34 academic entrepreneurs offering insights on their experience. The analysis puts in light that spin-offs tend to cluster around an industry despite a missing strategy at the university level. Furthermore, there is evidence that multiple clusters co-exist within the city, which is an ecosystem itself. This two-level ecosystem combines opportunities and reinforces industrial specialization and variety at the local level. The chapter offers a better understanding of the dynamics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in urban universities, specifically about the interaction among multiple universities in an urban ecosystem.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Landoni, Mr Matteo
• Authors: Landoni, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• ISBN: 9781788973526
• Published Online: 17 February 2020