Determining factors of the creation of academic Spin Offs: case of the Instituto Tecnológico of Costa Rica

Abstract

This work seeks to analyze the determining factors in the creation of academic spin offs in the Instituto Tecnológico of Costa Rica (ITCR), a public university of Costa Rica, by using the methodology proposed by O’Shea et al., (2008): attributes of the entrepreneur, organizational resources, institutional and environmental determinants. The results reveal that in the ITCR the main strengths are its mission, culture, and history characterized by the service offered to the production sector; nevertheless, it needs to enhance aspects like the quality of research and secure external funds for said research, as well as external legal aspects that offer the appropriate conditions for the creation of academic spin offs and the generation of risk capital; all this, in keeping with the paradigm of the entrepreneurial university. This article contributes to explain the process of creating spin offs in a Latin American public university and it is useful for the public and private academic sector in charge of promoting greater closeness between the University and Society.