Technopreneurship Development

Abstract

South Africa's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world with the youth being the most affected by joblessness and accounting for 63.3% of the total number of unemployed persons. A comprehensive strategy for youth employment as part of a broader focus on expanding employment is therefore necessary. This chapter assessed the status of technopreneurship development and identified key variables that determine a successful technopreneurship. Theory U, entrepreneurship orientation, and triple helix models were reviewed to better understand the drivers of technopreneurship development. The study identified barriers to effective technopreneurship development including inadequate funding to support young technopreneurs, weak linkages between stakeholders, lack of awareness in technopreneurship opportunities, lack of infrastructure, lack of appropriate mentors and role models. The chapter further proposed a conceptual model for successful technopreneurship development.