Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Academic entrepreneurship in South Africa: testing for entrepreneurial intentions

  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recognising the importance of academic entrepreneurship, which has been steadily increasing, we empirically test and extend the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) by incorporating institutional and organizational factors. We assemble a sample of research scientists in South Africa and administer a survey to empirically test the study hypotheses with structural equation modelling. Importantly, what sets this study’s results apart from comparable studies in entrepreneurial intentions is the dominance of attitude towards behaviour over the other antecedents. This effect demonstrates that awareness of, and exposure to, different aspects of entrepreneurship are likely to play an important role in shaping beliefs and attitudes towards academic entrepreneurship. By integrating various predictors of entrepreneurial intentions into one cohesive framework, policy makers may better understand the complementary nature of the different individual and contextual variables effecting entrepreneurial intentions. A further contribution of our study relates to evidence of the consistency of the TPB in explaining entrepreneurial intention in the South African academic entrepreneurship context. Such evidence is particularly relevant when considering that past research typically assumes but does not test that theories can be transferred from developed to emerging country contexts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abreu, M., & Grinevich, V. (2013). The nature of academic entrepreneurship in the UK: Widening the focus on entrepreneurial activities. Research Policy, 42(2), 408–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agarwal, R., & Shah, S. K. (2014). Knowledge sources of entrepreneurship: Firm formation by academic, user and employee innovators. Research Policy, 43(7), 1109–1133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behaviour. Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(1), 179–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (2001). Nature and operation of attitudes. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 27–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (2002). Perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, locus of control, and the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 665–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (2011). Theory of planned behavior. Psychological Health, 26(9), 1113-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldridge, T. T., & Audretsch, D. (2011). The Bayh–Dole Act and scientist entrepreneurship. Research Policy, 40(8), 1058–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aldridge, T. T., Audretsch, D., Desai, S., & Nadella, V. (2014). Scientist entrepreneurship across scientific fields. Journal of Technology Transfer, 39(6), 819–835.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alessandrini, M., Klose, K., & Pepper, M. S. (2013). University entrepreneurship in South Africa: Developments in technology transfer practices. Innovation: Management, Policy & Practice, 15(2), 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armitage, C. J., & Conner, M. (2001). Efficacy of the theory of planned behaviour: A meta-analytic review. British Journal of Social Psychology, 40(4), 471–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arvanitis, S., Kubli, U., & Woerter, M. (2008). University–industry knowledge and technology transfer in Switzerland: What university scientists think about co-operation with private enterprises. Research Policy, 37, 1865–1883.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Audretsch, D., & Kayalar-Erdem, D. (2005). Determinants of scientist entrepreneurship: An integrative research agenda. In S. Alvarez, R. Agarwal, & O. Sorenson (Eds.), Handbook of entrepreneurship research (pp. 97–118). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Azagra-Caro, J. M. (2007). What type of faculty member interacts with what type of firm? Some reasons for the delocalisation of university–industry interaction. Technovation, 27(11), 704–715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azagra-Caro, J. M. (2014). Determinants of national patent ownership by public research organisations and universities. Journal of Technology Transfer, 39(7), 898–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azagra-Caro, J. M., Carayol, N., & Llerena, P. (2006). Patent production at a European Research University: Exploratory evidence at the laboratory level. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31(3), 257–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bae, T. J., Qian, S., Miao, C., & Fiet, J. O. (2014). The relationship between entrepreneurial education and EI: A meta-analytic review. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 38(2), 217–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baglieri, D., & Lorenzoni, G. (2014). Closing the distance between academia and market experimentation and user entrepreneurial processes. Journal of Technology Transfer, 39(1), 52–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldini, N. (2010). Do royalties really foster university patenting activity? An answer from Italy. Technovation, 30(1), 109–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy. The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bercovitz, J., & Feldman, M. (2008). Academic entrepreneurs: Organizational change at the individual level. Organization Science, 19(1), 69–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann, H. (2017). The formation of opportunity beliefs among university entrepreneurs: An empirical study of research- and non-research-driven venture ideas. Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(1), 116–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhave, M. P. (1994). A process model of entrepreneurial venture creation. Journal of Business Venturing, 9(3), 223–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, B. (1988). Implementing entrepreneurial ideas: The case for intention. Academy of Management Review, 13(3), 442–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal, D., Campbell, E. G., Anderson, M. S., Causino, N., & Louis, K. S. (1997). Withholding research results in academic life science: Evidence from a national survey of faculty. Journal of the American Medical Association, 277(9), 1224–1228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal, D., Campbell, E. G., Causino, N., & Louis, K. S. (1996). Participation of life-science faculty in research relationships with industry. The New England Journal of Medicine, 335(12), 1734–1739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boh, W. F., De-Haan, U., & Strom, R. (2016). University technology transfer through entrepreneurship: Faculty and students in spinoffs. Journal of Technology Transfer, 41(4), 661–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, N. G., & Vozikis, G. S. (1994). The influence of self-efficacy on the development of entrepreneurial intentions & actions. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 18(4), 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozeman, B., & Gaughan, M. (2007). Impacts of grants and contracts on academic researchers’ interactions with industry. Research Policy, 36(5), 694–707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruton, G. D., Ahlstrom, D., & Obloj, K. (2008). Entrepreneurship in emerging economics: Where are we today and where the research should go in the future? Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 32(1), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, E. G., Weissman, J. S., Causino, N., & Blumenthal, D. (2000). Data withholding in academic medicine: Characteristics of faculty denied access to research results and biomaterials. Research Policy, 29(2), 303–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casati, A., & Genet, C. (2014). Principal investigators as scientific entrepreneurs. Journal of Technology Transfer, 39(1), 33–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C. C., Greene, P. G., & Crick, A. (1998). Does entrepreneurial self-efficacy distinguish entrepreneurs from managers? Journal of Business Venturing, 13(2), 295–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarysse, B., Tartari, V., & Salter, A. (2011). The impact of entrepreneurial capacity, experience and organizational support on academic entrepreneurship. Research Policy, 40(8), 1084–1093.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conner, M., & Armitage, C. J. (1998). Extending the theory of planned behavior: A review and avenues for further research. Journal of Applied Social Phycology, 28(15), 1429–1464.

    Google Scholar 

  • CSIR. (2013). CSIR 2012/2013 annual report. Pretoria: CSIR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J. A., Mangematin, V., O’Kane, C., & O’Reilly, P. (2016). At the frontiers of scientific advancement: The factors that influence scientists to become or choose to become publicly funded principal investigators. Journal of Technology Transfer, 41(3), 778–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davey, T., Rossano, S., & van der Sijde, P. (2016). Does context matter in academic entrepreneurship? The role of barriers and drivers in the regional and national context. Journal of Technology Transfer, 41(6), 1457–1458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, L., Larsen, M. T., & Lotz, P. (2011). Scientists’ perspectives concerning the effects of university patenting on the conduct of academic research in the life sciences. Journal of Technology Transfer, 36(1), 14–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bettignies, J.-E., & Brander, J. (2007). Financing Entrepreneurship: Bank finance versus venture capital. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(6), 808–832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, W. W., Murray, F., & Stuart, T. E. (2013). From bench to board: Gender differences in university scientists’ participation in corporate scientific advisory boards. Academy of Management Journal, 56(5), 1443–1464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Djokovic, D., & Souitaris, V. (2008). Spinouts from academic institutions: A literature review with suggestions for further research. Journal of Technology Transfer, 33(3), 225–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, E. J. (2013). Reconstructing EI to identify predisposition for growth. Journal of Business Venturing, 28(5), 633–651.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DST. (2012). Ministerial Review Committee on science, technology and innovation landscape in South Africa: Final report. Pretoria: Government Printer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engle, R. L., Dimitriadi, N., Gavidia, J. V., Schlaegel, C., Delanoe, S., Alvarado, I., et al. (2010). Entrepreneurial intent: A twelve-country evaluation of Ajzen’s model of planned behavior. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 16(1), 35–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H. (2002). Networks of innovation: Science, technology and development in the triple helix era. International Journal of Technology Management and Sustainable Development, 1(1), 7–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H. (2003). Research groups as ‘quasi-firms’: The invention of the entrepreneurial university. Research Policy, 32(1), 109–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H., Webster, A., Gebhardt, C., & Terra, C. B. R. (2000). The future of the university and the university of the future: Evolution of ivory tower to entrepreneurial paradigm. Research Policy, 29(2), 313–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falck, O., Heblich, S., & Luedemann, E. (2010). Identity and entrepreneurship: Do school peers shape entrepreneurial intentions? Small Business Economics, 39(1), 39–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feeney, M. K., & Welch, E. W. (2014). Academic outcomes among principal investigators, co-principal investigators, and non-PI researchers. Journal of Technology Transfer, 39(1), 111–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimmons, J. R., & Douglas, E. J. (2011). Interaction between feasibility and desirability in the formation of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(4), 431–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, F. J., & Widaman, K. F. (1995). Factor analysis in the development and refinement of clinical assessment instruments. Psychological Assessment, 7(3), 286–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(2), 39–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, S., Xu, K., & Yang, J. (2008). Managerial ties, absorptive capacity, and innovation. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 25(3), 395–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geuna, A., Llerena, P., Matt, M., & Savona, M. (2004). Evolution and persistence in the relationships with firms of the University of Strasbourg. In A. Gambardella & W. Garcia-Fontes (Eds.), The European chemical industry: Innovation, performance and competitiveness. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gird, A., & Bagraim, J. J. (2008). The theory of planned behaviour as predictor of entrepreneurial intent amongst final-year university students. South African Journal of Psychology, 38(4), 711–724.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giuliania, E., Morrison, A., Pietrobelli, C., & Rabellotti, R. (2016). Who are the researchers that are collaborating with industry? An analysis of the wine sectors in Chile, South Africa and Italy. Research Policy, 39(5), 748–761.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goel, R., & Rich, D. P. (2005). Organization of markets for science and technology. Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics, 161(1), 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goethner, M., Obschonka, M., Silbereisen, R. K., & Cantner, U. (2009). Approaching the agora: Determinants of scientists’ intentions to pursue academic entrepreneurship: Jena Economic Research Papers 2009-079. Friedrich Schiller University and the Max Planck Institute of Economics.

  • Goethner, M., Obschonka, M., Silbereisen, R. K., & Cantner, U. (2012). Scientists’ transition to academic entrepreneurship: Economic and psychological determinants. Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(3), 628–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldfarb, B., & Henrekson, M. (2003). Bottom-up versus top-down policies towards the commercialization of university intellectual property. Research Policy, 32(4), 639–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D., Kickul, J., & Carlsrud, L. (2009). Government bureaucracy, transactional impediment, and EI. International Small Business Journal, 27(5), 626–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero, M., & Urbano, D. (2014). Academics’ start-up intentions and knowledge filters: An individual perspective of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 43(1), 57–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero, M., Urbano, D., & Fayolle, A. (2016). Entrepreneurial activity and regional competitiveness: Evidence from European entrepreneurial universities. Journal of Technology Transfer, 41(1), 105–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeussler, C., & Colyvas, J. A. (2011). Breaking the ivory tower: Academic entrepreneurship in the life sciences in UK and Germany. Research Policy, 40(1), 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heher, A. D. (2006). Return on investment in innovation: Implications for institutions and national agencies. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31(4), 403–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heuer, A., & Liñán, F. (2013). Testing alternative measure of subjective norms in entrepreneurial intention models. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 19(1), 35–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huyghe, A., & Knockaer, M. (2015). The influence of organizational culture and climate on EI among research scientists. Journal of Technology Transfer, 40(1), 138–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iakovleva, T., Kolvereid, L., & Stephan, U. (2011). Entrepreneurial intentions in developing and developed countries. Education + Training, 53(5), 353–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain, S., George, G., & Maltarich, M. (2009). Academics or entrepreneurs? Investigating role identity modification of university scientists involved in commercialization activity. Research Policy, 38(6), 922–935.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautonen, T., Van Gelderen, M., & Fink, M. (2013). Robustness of the theory of planned behavior in predicting entrepreneurial intentions and actions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39, 655–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautonen, T., van Gelderen, M., & Fink, M. (2015). Robustness of the theory of planned behavior in predicting EI and actions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(3), 655–674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautonen, T., van Gelderen, M., & Tornikoski, E. T. (2011). Predicting entrepreneurial behaviour: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. Applied Economics, 45(6), 697–707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenney, M., & Goe, W. R. (2004). The role of social embeddedness in professorial entrepreneurship: A comparison of electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley and Stanford. Research Policy, 33(5), 691–707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kickul, J., Gundry, L. K., Barbosa, S. D., & Whitcanack, L. (2009). Intuition versus analysis? Testing models of cognitive style on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and the new venture creation phases. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(2), 439–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., & Hunter, J. (1993). Relationships among attitudes, intentions and behavior. Communications Research, 20(1), 331–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolvereid, L., & Isaksen, E. (2006). New business start-up and subsequent entry into self-employment. Journal of Business Venturing, 21(6), 866–885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostova, T., & Zaheer, S. (1999). Organizational legitimacy under conditions of complexity: The case of the multinational enterprise. Academy of Management Review, 24(1), 64–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotabe, M., Jiang, C. X., & Murray, J. Y. (2011). Managerial ties, knowledge acquisition, realized absorptive capacity and new product market performance of emerging multinational companies: A case of China. Journal of World Business, 46(2), 166–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krabel, S., & Mueller, P. (2009). What drives scientists to start their own company? An empirical investigation of Max Planck Society scientists. Research Policy, 38(6), 947–956.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krimsky, S. (2003). Science in the private interest. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, N. F., & Carsrud, A. L. (1993). EI: Applying the theory of planned behavior. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 5(4), 315–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of EI. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5–6), 411–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, A. (2010). From ‘ivory tower traditionalists’ to ‘entrepreneurial scientists’? Academic scientists in fuzzy university–industry boundaries. Social Studies of Science, 40(2), 307–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazear, E. P. (2005). Entrepreneurship. Journal of Labor Economics, 23(4), 649–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. S. (1996). ‘Technology transfer’ and the research university: A search for the boundaries of university–industry collaboration. Research Policy, 25(6), 843–863.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. S. (2000). The sustainability of university–industry research collaboration: An empirical assessment. Journal of Technology Transfer, 25(1), 111–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. H., & Wong, P. K. (2004). An exploratory study of technopreneurial intentions: A career anchor perspective. Journal of Business Venturing, 19(1), 7–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lévesque, M., & Minniti, M. (2006). The effect of aging on entrepreneurial behavior. Journal of Business Venturing, 21(2), 177–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao, T. J., & Yu, C. J. (2013). The impact of local linkages, international linkages, and absorptive capacity on innovation for foreign firms operating in an emerging economy. Journal of Technoly Transfer, 38(6), 809–827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liñán, F., & Chen, Y. W. (2009). Development and cross-cultural application of a specific instrument to measure EI. Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 33(3), 593–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liñán, F., Urbano, D., & Guerrero, M. (2011). Regional variations in entrepreneurial cognitions: Start-up intentions of university students in Spain. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 23(3–4), 187–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link, A. N., Siegel, D. S., & Bozeman, B. (2007). An empirical analysis of the propensity of academics to engage in informal university technology transfer. Industrial and Corporate Change, 16(3), 641–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lortie, J., & Castogiovanni, G. (2015). The theory of planned behavior in entrepreneurship research: What we know and future directions. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(4), 935–957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe, R., & Gonzalez-Brambila, C. (2007). Faculty entrepreneurs and research productivity. Journal of Technology Transfer, 32(3), 173–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malebana, J. (2014). EI of South African rural university students: A test of the theory of planned behaviour. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 6(2), 130–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDevitt, V. L., Mendez-Hinds, J., Winwood, D., Nijhawan, V., Sherer, T., Ritter, J. F., et al. (2014). More than money: The exponential impact of academic technology transfer. Technology and Innovation, 16(1), 75–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, G. D. (2011). The reinvention of academic entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Management, 49(1), 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moog, P., Werner, A., Houweling, S., & Backes-Gellner, U. (2015). The impact of skills, working time allocation and peer effects on the entrepreneurial intentions of scientists. Journal of Technology Transfer, 40(3), 493–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moriano, J. A., Gorgievski, M., Laguna, M., Stephan, U., & Zarafshani, K. (2012). A cross-cultural approach to understanding entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Career Development, 39(2), 162–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moutinho, P., Fontes, M., & Godinho, M. (2007). Do individual factors matter? A survey of scientists’ patenting in Portuguese public research organisations. Scientometrics, 70(2), 355–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, F. (2004). The role of academic inventors in entrepreneurial firms: Sharing the laboratory life. Research Policy, 33, 643–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanda, R., & Sorensen, J. B. (2010). Workplace peers and entrepreneurship. Management Science, 56(7), 1116–1126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, A. J. (2014). From the ivory tower to the startup garage: Organizational context and commercialization processes. Research Policy, 43(7), 1144–1156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholas, S., & Vonortas, S. E. (2007). S&T Parks and business incubators in middle-sized countries: The case of Greece. Journal of Technology Transfer, 32(5), 525–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okamuro, H., & Nishimura, J. (2013). Impact of university intellectual property policy on the performance of university–industry research collaboration. Journal of Technology Transfer, 38(3), 273–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen-Smith, J., & Powell, W. W. (2001). To patent or not: Faculty decisions and institutional success at technology transfer. Journal of Technology Transfer, 26(1), 99–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pathak, S., Xavier-Oliveira, E., & Laplume, A. O. (2016). Technology use and availability in entrepreneurship: Informal economy as moderator of institutions in emerging economies. Journal of Technology Transfer, 41(3), 506–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkmann, M., Tartari, V., McKelvey, M., Autio, E., Broström, A., D’Este, P., et al. (2013). Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university–industry relations. Research Policy, 42(2), 423–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterman, N. E., & Kennedy, J. (2003). Enterprise education: Influencing students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 28(2), 129–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63(4), 539–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pouris, A. (2007). Technology transfer and diffusion: Capacity and potential in South Africa’s public universities—survey 2007. Pretoria: Higher Education South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pouris, A. (2012). Science in South Africa: The dawn of a renaissance? South African Journal of Science, 108(7/8), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prodan, I., & Drnovsek, M. (2010). Conceptualizing academic-EI: An empirical test. Technovation, 30(5–6), 332–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiua, S., Liub, X., & Gaoc, T. (2017). Do emerging countries prefer local knowledge or distant knowledge? Spillover effect of university collaborations on local firms. Research Policy, 46(8), 1299–1311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, E., Moen, Ø., & Guldbransen, M. (2006). Initiatives to promote commercialization of university knowledge. Technovation, 26(4), 518–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, E., Mosey, S., & Wright, M. (2011). The evolution of entrepreneurial competencies: A longitudinal study of university spin-off venture emergence. Journal of Management Studies, 48(6), 1314–1345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renault, C. S. (2006). Academic capitalism and university incentives for faculty entrepreneurship. Journal of Technology Transfer, 3(2), 227–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roach, M., & Sauermann, H. (2010). A taste for science? Phd scientists’ academic orientation and self-selection into research careers in industry. Research Policy, 39(3), 422–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothaermel, F. T., Agung, S. D., & Jiang, L. (2007). University entrepreneurship: A taxonomy of the literature. Journal of Industrial and Corporate Change, 16(4), 691–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RSA: Republic of South Africa. (2014). Proclamation by the President of the Republic of South Africa Number 43. Government Gazette Number 37817. Pretoria: Government Printer.

  • Saeed, S., Yousafzai, S. Y., Yani-De-Soriano, M., & Muffatto, M. (2015). The role of perceived university support in the formation of students’ entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(4), 1127–1145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos, F. J., & Liñán, F. (2010). Gender differences in EI: An international comparison: Working paper. Sevilla: Departamento Economía Aplicada I, Universidad de Sevilla.

  • Santos, F. J., Roomi, M. A., & Liñán, F. (2016). About gender differences and the social environment in the development of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 54(1), 49–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlaegel, C., & Koenig, M. (2014). Determinants of entrepreneurial intent: A meta-analytic test and integration of competing models. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 38(2), 291–332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholes, R. J., Anderson, F., Kenyon, C., Napier, J., Ngoepe, P., van Wilgen, B., et al. (2008). Science councils in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 104(4), 435–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shane, S. A. (2004). Academic entrepreneurship: University spinoffs and wealth creation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Shapero, A., & Sokol, L. (1982). The social dimensions of entrepreneurship. In C. Kent, D. Sexton, & K. H. Vesper (Eds.), The encyclopaedia of entrepreneurship (pp. 72–90). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheeran, P. (2002). Intention–behaviour relations: A conceptual and empirical overview. European Review of Social Psychology, 12(1), 1–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shook, C. L., Priem, R. L., & McGee, J. E. (2003). Venture creation and the enterprising individual: A review and synthesis. Journal of Management, 29(3), 379–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibanda, M. (2009). Intellectual property, commercialisation and institutional arrangements at South Africa’s publicly financed research institutions. In D. Kaplan (Ed.), The economics of intellectual property in South Africa (pp. 113–145). Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieger, P., & Monsen, E. (2015). Founder, academic, or employee? A nuanced study of career choice intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(S1), 30–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souitaris, V., Zerbinati, S., & Al-Laham, A. (2007). Do entrepreneurship programmes raise entrepreneurial intention of science and engineering students? The effect of learning, inspiration and resources. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(4), 566–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E. (2006). Method variance in organizational research truth or urban legend? Organizational Research Methods, 9(2), 221–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart, T. E., & Ding, W. W. (2006). When do scientists become entrepreneurs? The social structural antecedents of commercial activity in the academic life sciences. American Journal of Sociology, 112(1), 97–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tartari, V., Perkmann, M., & Salter, A. (2014). In good company: The influence of peers on industry engagement by academic scientists. Research Policy, 43(9), 1189–1203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, E. R. (2009). Individual entrepreneurial intent: Construct clarification and development of an internationally reliable metric. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 33(3), 669–694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thursby, J., & Thursby, M. C. (2005). Gender patterns of research and licensing activity of science and engineering faculty. Journal of Technology Transfer, 30(4), 343–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toole, A. A., & Czarnitzki, D. (2010). Commercializing science: Is there a university “brain drain” from academic entrepreneurship? Management Science, 56(9), 1599–1614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turker, D., & Selcuk, S. (2009). Which factors affect entrepreneurial intention of university students? Journal of European Industrial Training, 33(2), 142–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turton, T., & Herrington, M. (2013). Global entrepreneurship monitor report South Africa. Cape Town: UCT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Universities SA (2016). Public-universities in South-Africa. Pretoria: Department of Higher Education.

  • Urban, B. (2006). Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intentions: A higher education perspective. Education as Change, 10(3), 14–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban, B. (2013). The importance of attributes in entrepreneurial opportunity evaluations: An emerging market study. Managerial and Decision Economics, 35(8), 523–539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urban, B., & Hwindingwi, R. (2016). Institutional factors in African Emerging Markets influencing MNE corporate strategies. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 11(4), 497–513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Dierdonck, R., Debackere, K., & Engelen, B. (1990). University–industry relationships: How does the Belgian academic community feel about it? Research Policy, 19(3), 551–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, S. G., Parboteeah, K. P., & Walter, A. (2013). University departments and self-employment intentions of business students: A cross-level analysis. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 37(2), 175–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, S. G., Schmidt, A., & Walter, A. (2016). Patenting rationales of academic entrepreneurs in weak and strong organizational regimes. Research Policy, 45(2), 533–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, T. L., & Sheeran, S. (2006). Does changing behavioral intentions engender behavior change? A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 132(2), 249–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weijters, B., & Baumgartner, H. (2012). Misresponse to reversed and negated items in surveys: A review. Journal of Marketing Research, 49(5), 737–747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, L. J., Vandenberg, R. J., & Edwards, J. R. (2009). Structural equation modeling in management research: A guide for improved analysis. Academy of Management Annals, 3(1), 543–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. K., Lee, L., & Leung, A. (2006). Entrepreneurship by circumstances and abilities: The mediating role of job satisfaction and moderating role of self-efficacy. Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 26(6), 14–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeganegi, S., Laplume, A. O., Dass, P., & Huynh, C. L. (2016). Where do spinouts come from? The role of technology relatedness and institutional context. Research Policy, 45(5), 1103–1112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zellweger, T., Sieger, P., & Halter, F. (2011). Should I stay or should i go? Career choice intentions of students with family business background. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(5), 521–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, H., Seibert, S. E., & Lumpkin, G. T. (2010). The relationship of personality to EI and performance: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 36(2), 381–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatersrand, 2 St. David’s Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa

    B. Urban & J. Chantson

  2. Wits, PO Box 98, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    B. Urban & J. Chantson

Authors
  1. B. Urban
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Chantson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Urban.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Urban, B., Chantson, J. Academic entrepreneurship in South Africa: testing for entrepreneurial intentions. J Technol Transf 44, 948–980 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9639-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9639-z

Keywords

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation