From research to market: An examination of support mechanisms for science-based new firms
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Abstract
Science-based entrepreneurship, like other types of new venture creation, is thoroughly exposed to “valley of death” phenomena. The “valley of death” is a time-period where scientists move from research to product development and subsequent commercialization phase. Despite several efforts, the majority of these new ventures fail to reach the following growth period. This dissertation examines entrepreneurial mechanisms as bridges to cross the valley. Through four studies, I analyze entrepreneurship mentoring, the lean startup method, and entrepreneurial education as bridges to move scientist from research to market. This research examines an entrepreneurial program as a context to study the scientific community. I combined a systematic review, qualitative, and qualitative methodological approaches. This research highlights the fact that it is possible to move scientists from research to market. Results suggest a positive impact of an entrepreneurial program on their participants in terms of business knowledge, entrepreneurial behavior, and customer validation. Also, this research contributes to understanding the context and public policies related to science commercialization in developing economies.