Browsing by Author "Lawton Smith, Helen"

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    Characteristics and Outputs of University Spin-offs in the United Kingdom
    (Sage, 2020-06-01) Bagchi-Sen, Sharmistha; Baines, Nabhassorn; Lawton Smith, Helen
    Research on the formal role of universities in stimulating regional economic development is relatively recent. However, the role of universities in contributing to regional technological and service variety is underresearched. In this study, we use a data set that has wide geographic coverage. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the UK-wide contribution of university spin-offs (USOs) to the innovation capacity of their host regional economies. We argue that the survival and growth of USOs imply embeddedness in innovation ecosystems in a region. The findings show that the majority of firms in the sample are relatively young, small in size, and are still at the early stages of their life cycle. Hence, the products and services that are offered are fairly small in number. Nevertheless, their products/services based on university research have the potential for value capture by other firms thus implying contributions to a range of related and unrelated industry sectors within a region or beyond the local.
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    Knowledge and capabilities for products/services development: the UK spin-off firms context
    (Emerald, 2020-05-01) Baines, Ning; Lawton Smith, Helen
    Purpose This paper aims to explore and propose the skills and capabilities required in developing products and services within UK university spin-offs (USOs) by considering the model of products/services development (Verona, 1999). Design/methodology/approach Mixed methods of 20 in-depth interviews and questionnaire survey with 204 founders of USOs were used in this study. Findings The findings contribute in filling the literature gap by proposing key knowledge and capabilities required to develop products/services within the unique and non-commercial context, in which USOs are created by academics who do not necessarily have entrepreneurial or business experience. Originality/value This research contributes to studies of product/service development by proposing a modification of elements within the existing theoretical model to be applicable to the specific firm and country context, such as USOs in the UK. Further, the study extends knowledge on the interplay between knowledge management and product development. The applications of the findings are that they can inform academic entrepreneurs on the capabilities significant in the development process. They can also act as indicators to technology transfer offices in what is needed for the provision of appropriate support and training to academic founders/entrepreneurs to foster and enhance other entrepreneurial activities.
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    Oxford and Grenoble: multiple anchors, strong dyadic relationships and national policy in fostering cluster architectures
    (Taylor and Francis, 2021-11-26) Assimakopoulos, Dimitris; Lawton Smith, Helen; Baines, Ning; Romeo, Saverio; Tsouri, Maria
    This paper explores the divergence in patterns of regional development in twin towns, one in France, Grenoble and one in the UK, Oxford. Since the early 2000s a number of changes in national policies in each country have had a direct effect on the dynamics of local technology-led economic development. Here the particular interest is in those which relate to inter-relationships (dyads) between anchor organisations (public sector research laboratories) and major local firms. The paper’s focus is on how changes in policy have an effect on strong local relationships and how multiple anchor organisations drive cluster development
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    Which regional conditions facilitate university spinouts retention and attraction?
    (Taylor and Francis, 2021-07-12) Rossi, Federica; Baines, Ning; Lawton Smith, Helen
    We investigate the economic and institutional factors that help regions to retain university spinouts (USOs) founded within their borders, and to attract USOs from other regions. Using UK data, we find that regions with high USO retention rates have lower urbanisation and localisation economies. This indicates that locally-founded USOs take advantage of cheaper inputs, in addition to proximity to their home university. Regions with high USO attraction rates have higher localisation economies and innovation resources, suggesting that USOs move there to benefit from dynamic innovation systems. This study offers some general implications for industrial policy to level up regional disparities.