Title: The impact of regional development policies on biotechnology firm creation: a comparative analysis of France, Germany and the UK

Authors: Calin Gurau, Alexander Groh

Addresses: GSCM-Montpellier Business School, 2300, Avenue des Moulins, 34185 Montpellier Cedex 4, France. ' GSCM-Montpellier Business School, 2300, Avenue des Moulins, 34185 Montpellier Cedex 4, France

Abstract: The development of new high-technology firms is considered by many governments as an effective solution for sustainable economic development and low unemployment. Despite the extensive research already done about the regional determinants of entrepreneurship, it is still difficult to understand the degree in which the regional development policies initiated by the national governments are enhancing the entrepreneurial activity in specific sectors. Adopting a comparative approach, this study attempts to identify the governmental initiatives taken in the UK, France and Germany for the development of the biotechnology sector and the way in which these initiatives have influenced the various regional determinants of bio-entrepreneurship.

Keywords: regional policies; biotech firms; firm creation; transnational comparisons; startups; entrepreneurship; regional development; France; Germany; UK; United Kingdom; biotechnology; high technology; high tech firms; governmental initiatives; bio-entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2009.023024

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2009 Vol.7 No.3, pp.347 - 366

Published online: 08 Feb 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article