Academic spin-offs in an African emerging market context

Abstract

Despite that the commercialization of academic research at universities in the form of spin-offs is increasingly acknowledged as a source of innovation across the globe, few universities in Africa have created spin-offs. Consequently, we examine the extent to which different organizational factors impact the development of academic spin-offs in the South African context. Primary data is collected from public universities via a structured questionnaire and hypotheses are evaluated using structural equation modelling. The findings reveal that organizational factors in terms of research mobilisation, external collaboration, unconventionality, and the perception of bureaucratic university policies all positively and significantly influence academic spin-offs. A complex picture of predictors influencing academic spin-offs emerges in terms of the different model pathways. Conducting research and empirically evaluating a model in an African emerging market context, offers new and valuable insights, which can enlarge theory and enhance understanding of academic entrepreneurship in general.