Rethink university system: toward entrepreneurial university

Abstract

Purpose – The role of knowledge has become increasingly important in the modern economic system. The knowledge is the main strategic asset for the creation and growth of new firms. For this reason, the higher educational system play a role in the national innovation process. The main objective of this exploratory study investigates on modern changes in the education system of today. The study will be to understand the relational context in the process of creating academic spin-offs (ASOs). In particular, the analysis of the coordination and relation mechanisms in the process can show how different geographies factors, with different mechanism of relations, can favour the creation of new academic entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – Analysis of entrepreneurial universities are based on the views of many famous scientists, namely, Audretsch (2014), Awbrey (2003), Etzkowitz and Zhou (2008), Guerrero et al. (2016), Rasmussen and Wright (2015), Walshok and Shapiro (2014), Jacob et al. (2003), Dominici and Levanti (2015), Sharif and Baark (2008), Wright and Fu (2015) etc. We propose an approach divided in two-step. In the first step we want to make a longitudinal study on literature of educational system, academic entrepreneurship and spinoffs. In particular, we want to understand the main challenges that the higher educational system faces in the modern economic system. In the second phase, by a cross analysis of databases we will attempt to theorize the main aspects of the recent changes on higher educational system. The first database7 created from the collaboration between the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Netval and Institute of Management of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, which collects all the spin-offs in Italy. The data have been observed until the date of 08/14/2016. At that date, the spin-offs appear to be no. 1287. The large number of sample being analyzed has allowed highlighting different aspects of the phenomenon. The other databases include the data on incubators and universities9 in Italy. All databases are public. In this work, we use qualitative and descriptive tools. Originality/value – The paper wants to examine the current role of the university in modern economic system. The originality of this investigation lies in its ability to offer a picture and first analysis about main actors and of the entrepreneurial university system. In particular, we offer several consideration about the entrepreneurial university and spin-off system. The continuous changes of university system generates profound on academic spinoff. This study highlights these changes. Practical implications – The outcomes of this study have different implications. First of all the results will help the university to better manage the process of changes and exploitation of the academic knowledge through the spin-off creation. At the same time, the findings can help the external actors of the university to understand the business opportunities based on academic knowledge and competitive advantage in the market.