Investigating the Relationship between Technological Entrepreneurship and National Innovativeness: Moderating Effects of Intellectual Property Protection and R&D Transfer Environment

Abstract

Abstract This study examines how technological entrepreneurship affects national innovativeness based on the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship. It also examines how technological environments related to intellectual property protection and R&D transfer moderate this relationship. Based on data from 82 countries on technological entrepreneurship, intellectual property protection and innovation activities, this study finds that a higher ratio of technological entrepreneurship in the country enhances national innovativeness. In addition, the level of R&D transfer environment is found to negatively moderate this relationship, and evidence is found for a negative moderating effect of the strength of the intellectual property protection environment in a subsample of innovation-driven economies.