Academic inventors and research groups: entrepreneurial cultures at universities

摘要

Many believe institutions and organizations are the main factors in the initiation and the establishment of entrepreneurial cultures at universities. This paper argues that scientists are important actors as well as mediums in shaping the entrepreneurial culture at universities. By portraying academic inventors at Lund University, Sweden this study explores to what extent and how scientists institutionalize entrepreneurial culture within their research groups and whether or not it has become widespread. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial activities, just like scientific performance, are highly concentrated in the minds and abilities of a relatively small number of individuals. However, entrepreneurs are not isolated from their environment. They imprint their behaviours on their research groups as well as tapping the external factors to help to nurture their entrepreneurial activities.