Building innovation networks in science-based young firms: the selection of knowledge sources

Sousa, Cristina; Fontes, Margarida

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.9/2671

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
Int.JournalEntrepreneurshipSmallBusiness_Vol.21_370.pdf		125.53 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Sousa, Cristina

Fontes, Margarida

Abstract(s)

The paper investigates the strategic choices made by young science-based firms regarding the selection of knowledge sources. Data collected on Portuguese biotechnology firms are analysed with a view to answer to two research questions: whether, to what extent and in which conditions science-based entrepreneurs activate their social capital and/or build new knowledge relationships at start-up; whether and to what extent the knowledge relationships established at start-up persist and/or the firm builds relationships with new organisations. The results confirm the importance attributed to tie persistence but they also show that science-based firms need to search for new knowledge sources from the very early stages. Thus, their start-up behaviour departs from the one often depicted by the entrepreneurship literature, that emphasises the mobilisation of the entrepreneurs' social capital. Results also show that persistence of ties established at start-up is lower than would be expected.

Keywords

Innovation network Knowledge network Entrepreneurship Network building strategy Biotechnology firms Social capital

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.9/2671

Citation

Sousa, C.; Fontes, M. - Building innovation networks in science-based young firms: the selection of knowledge sources. In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014, Vol. 21, nº 3, p. 370-390