From ecosystem to community. Combining entrepreneurship and university engagement in an open innovation perspective

The paper provides a new perspective for the analysis of academic entrepreneurship dynamics in an evolving open innovation context. Starting from an overview of the innovation (eco) systems approach and a focus on university engagement, we propose a paradigm shift towards the conceptualisation of an innovation community (IC) within and around higher education institutions (HEIs) boundaries. The main goal of the study is to show that the concept of IC can be applied to a knowledge-intensive hub, where open innovation (OI) processes successfully enhance knowledge flows in the context of advanced education programs and spin-off firm creation and management. Our research is explorative in nature and structured around a multiple case study methodology. The outcomes confirm that the IC view can acquire a theoretical relevance when referring to OI contexts involving public, private and institutional sectors. Practical implications include a further framework for both technology transfer operators and institutions.