Title: Initial and further business development: highlights from business model, open innovation, and knowledge management perspectives

Authors: Laurent Scaringella

Addresses: ESC Rennes School of Business, 2 rue d'Arbrissel – CS 76522, 35000 Rennes Cedex, France

Abstract: In a technological spin-off, initial and further business development is a two-stage challenge of survival and growth. Spin-offs' business development relies on the design and renewal of an adequate business model, effective open innovation, and advanced knowledge management. This study describes the initial and further business development of a successful spin-off, MEMS&Co, through a longitudinal case study. The business model benefited from specific revenue/investments streams from clients and was subsequently supplemented by new business models in novel applications. Open innovation offered a unique outside-in process from universities, suppliers, and research centres and then transformed into an advanced new process. Knowledge management focused on cross-technical knowledge modularity and subsequently on knowledge recombination.

Keywords: business development; survival; growth; entrepreneur; start-up; spin-off; business model; open innovation; knowledge management; case study; longitudinal; MEMS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2018.089712

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2018 Vol.22 No.1/2, pp.103 - 125

Received: 21 Oct 2014
Accepted: 06 Sep 2015
Published online: 08 Feb 2018 *

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