Why Some Research Insights Find Their Way to Market and Some Do Not

In our knowledge-based society academic spin- offs are an important form of technology transfer. However, most related entrepreneurial efforts fail. When looking at determining factors, researchers have to be regarded as members of a complex social network consisting not only of academic peers but also of participants from industry, policy, and supporting institutions, and friends and family members. This network is the academic entrepreneur s general framework of operation characterised by resource and communication flows of differing nature. The book tries to answer the question under what conditions spin-offs from academia emerge with special emphasis on the entrepreneurs social capital expressed in terms of their social networks. To this end a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the social network academic entrepreneurs operate in at the different stages of the spin-off process was executed. The results are intended to increase academic entrepreneurs' awareness on how to optimally using their social networks when setting up a new business, and to support political decision-makers in fostering respective entrepreneurial dynamics.