Upstream and downstream knowledge-based antecedents of academic entrepreneurship and technology transfer

This paper contributes to expand our understanding of academics’ participation in academic entrepreneurship and technology transfer by exploring two specific knowledge-based antecedents which emanates from research activities: upstream knowledge sources gained through outstanding individuals’ contributions to scientific discoveries and downstream knowledge sources obtained through researchers’ interactions with potential beneficiaries of research. We find a reinforce effect for those scientists who jointly combine both knowledge sources so they are more likely to get involved in academic spin-offs, but not in licensing of intellectual property rights. Additionally, we examine the influence exerted by a supportive organisational environment for commercialisation activities at the department or research institute levels. Our results show that this type of organisational support is particularly positive in the case of lower levels of upstream knowledge sources.