Title: Entrepreneurial culture in innovative biotech clusters in Europe

Authors: Huub J.M. Ruël; Polina Frolova; Aard Groen

Addresses: NIKOS Department, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 75000 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' NIKOS Department, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 75000 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' NIKOS Department, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 75000 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper presents a study on the determinants of entrepreneurial culture in innovative biotech clusters. A literature review led to the identification of nine determinants. For the empirical study four clusters in Western Europe with a high entrepreneurial culture were selected. Cluster participants were invited to fill out a questionnaire. In addition semi-structured interviews were held with selected participants in order to get in-depth information from cluster participants. Social networks, company role models, and funding seemed to be the most important determinants of an entrepreneurial culture in biotech clusters. Moreover, the findings suggest that determinants are interrelated, and that some are indirectly influencing entrepreneurial culture while others are directly determining entrepreneurial culture.

Keywords: entrepreneurial culture; biotech clusters; innovation; Europe; biotechnology; entrepreneurship; social networks; company role models; funding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.048849

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.17 No.2, pp.249 - 263

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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