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Supporting high-tech start-ups: Lessons from Italian technology policy

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Abstract

Public intervention is often advocated in high-tech sectors in order to solve market imperfections that limit the activity of new technology-based firms (NTBFs). Whilst some European countries have adopted national government support policies which explicitly target this type of firm; in Italy, as in other EU countries, there are no public support measures specifically designed for NTBFs. So, a question arises: to what extent are the NTBFs of these countries able to get funds from public administration? The paper focuses on the Italian case, and after a review of the available national public subsidies, through empirical and econometric analyses, it investigates whether horizontal general-purpose direct support mechanisms at national level permit an efficient allocation of public funds. The results highlight the need for more specific and customised policy measures towards NTBFs.

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Colombo, M.G., Grilli, L. Supporting high-tech start-ups: Lessons from Italian technology policy. Int Entrep Manag J 2, 189–209 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-8684-0

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