Title: Patents and entrepreneurship: the impact of opportunity, motivation and ability

Authors: Jonas Gabrielsson; Diamanto Politis; Åsa Lindholm Dahlstrand

Addresses: CIRCLE, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden; CIEL, Halmstad University, P.O. Box 823, SE-301 18, Halmstad, Sweden ' CIRCLE, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden ' CIRCLE, Lund University, P.O. Box 117, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden

Abstract: In this study, we examine individual patent holders and the fate of their inventions. A unique database consisting of over 800 private individuals who have obtained decision rights over a new technology in Sweden is used to analyse how opportunity and individual level characteristics are related to the likelihood that patented inventions are commercialised in a new or existing small firm. Our findings show that the likelihood that patent holders commercialise inventions through such an entrepreneurial mode is influenced by opportunity novelty and the perceived entrepreneurial ability of the individual.

Keywords: patents; entrepreneurship; start-ups; small firms; technological opportunity; motivation; ability; technology commercialisation; exploitation; Sweden; inventions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2013.054961

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2013 Vol.19 No.2, pp.142 - 166

Published online: 30 Sep 2013 *

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