Abstract
The present work takes into account the creation of Spin-off companies in CNR, Italian National Research Council, up to 2012. The aim is to analyze the relations of Spin-offs with CNR, their technological sector and their industrial performance. Several types of data are exploited and analyzed. Studied topics encompass relations with CNR Departments, geographical distribution, local research and industrial context. The main analysis relies on budgetary and industrial sector data, in order to measure the performance of CNR Spin-offs. Their performance is also compared with suitable benchmarks of firms and academic Spin-offs. The evolution of the context is also considered in the study. The study of the activity of CNR in fostering the creation of knowledge-intensive firms offers an insight on the role of National Research Institutions, and in particular of the specific case.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The participation of public research organizations to the yearly enquiry of Netval is very recent.
- 2.
The below reviewed articles may serve also as a reference for a description of the features of CNR.
- 3.
http://www.cnr.it/sitocnr/IlCNR/Innovazione/Spinoff.html and http://www.cnr.it/sitocnr/IlCNR/Innovazione/SocietaSpinoffCNR.html, accessed July, 2013 (in Italian).
- 4.
AIDA (see http://www.bvdinfo.com/Products/Company-Information/National/Aida.aspx, accessed July 2013) is an Italian company information and business intelligence database, produced by Bureau Van Dijk. It contains data on all Italian companies: balance sheet data, as well as address, employees, industrial sector, partners, etc.
- 5.
Italian Industrial classification is called ATECO. ATECO (Classificazione delle ATtività ECOnomiche, Economic Activities’ Classification) is the classification adopted by Italian National Statistics Institute ISTAT for national statistics on economic and productive activities. In its most recent edition (2007) it structure follows NACE rev. 2. It is commonly exploited in all works concerning industrial economics in Italy.
- 6.
ATECO classification has different levels of refinement. It starts from 2-digits classification (88 general categories) to 4-digits to 6-digits (the most selective classification).
- 7.
ASIA database contains data on employees of all Italian firms and sectors, and is provided by INPS-Istituto Nazionale Previdenza Sociale (Italian National Social Insurance Institute).
- 8.
Netval (2013) report counts 97 Spin offs. It must be noted that this number encompasses also Spin-offs created by INFM (National Institute of Materials’ Physics). Nevertheless Netval does not provide any list of such Spin-offs, and instead refers in its website to the list from CNR which was exploited in the present work.
- 9.
It must be noted that a furthers Spin-off, operating in the field of speech technologies, has been created in July 2013.
- 10.
Departments are those existing before April 4th, 2012. The 11 departments have been reorganized after that date into 7 departments.
- 11.
http://www.cnr.it/istituti/Perareegeografiche.html (in Italian), accessed July 2013.
- 12.
Source for data on population is http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DCIS_POPORESBIL1&Lang=, accessed July 2013; source for data on researchers is http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/77342, accessed July 2013.
References
Abramo G (2006) The technology transfer of the Italian public research system: the case of the National Research Council of Italy. Int J Technol Transf Commer 5(4):338–354
Abramo G, D’Angelo A (2009) The alignment of public research supply and industry demand for effective technology transfer: the case of Italy. Sci Public Policy 36(1):2–14
Abramo G, D’Angelo CA, Ferretti M, Parmentola A (2012) An individual-level assessment of the relationship between spin-off activities and research performance in universities. R&D Manag 42(3):225–242
Algieri B, Aquino A, Succurro M (2011) Technology transfer offices and academic spin-off creation: the case of Italy. J Technol Transf:1–19. doi:10.1007/s10961-011-9241-8
Balderi C, Butelli P, Conti G, Di Minin A, Piccaluga A (2007) Towards an Italian way in the valorisation of results from public research. Impresa Progetto—Rivista on line del DITEA, 1, 2007. http://www.impresaprogetto.it/. Accessed July 2013
Biggin S (1997) Reform begins with new CNR head. Science 275(5308):1871
Buenstorf G (2009) Is commercialization good or bad for science? Individual-level evidence from the Max Planck Society. Res Policy 38(2):281–292
Buenstorf G, Geissler M (2012) Not invented here: technology licensing, knowledge transfer and innovation based on public research. J Evol Econ 22(3):481–511
Buenstorf G, Schacht A (2013) We need to talk-or do we? Geographic distance and the commercialization of technologies from public research. Res Policy 42(2):465–480
Cariola M, Coccia M (2004) Technology transfer virtual network: analysis within the Italian system of innovation. Int J Networking Virtual Organ 2(2):162–172
Chiesa V, Piccaluga A (2000) Exploitation and diffusion of public research: the case of academic spin-off companies in Italy. R&D Manag 30(4):329–338
Coccia M (2004a) New models for measuring the R&D performance and identifying the productivity of public research institutes. R&D Manag 34(3):267–280
Coccia M (2004b) Spatial metrics of the technological transfer: analysis and strategic management. Technol Anal Strat Manag 16(1):31–51
Coccia M (2005) A taxonomy of public research bodies: a systemic approach. Prometheus Crit Stud Innov 23(1):63–82
Coccia M, Rolfo S (2002) Technology transfer analysis in the Italian National Research Council. Technovation 22(5):291–299
Coccia M, Rolfo S (2007) How research policy changes can affect the organization and productivity of public research institutes: an analysis within the Italian national system of innovation. J Comp Policy Anal Res Pract 9(3):215–233
Coccia M, Rolfo S (2008) Strategic change of public research units in their scientific activity. Technovation 28(8):485–494
Coccia M, Rolfo S (2010) New entrepreneurial behaviour of public research organisations: opportunities and threats of technological services supply. Int J Serv Technol Manag 13(1/2):134–151
Coccia M, Rolfo S (2013) Human resource management and organizational behavior of public research institutions. Int J Public Adm 36(4):256–268
Colombo MG, D’Adda D, Piva E (2010) The contribution of university research to the growth of academic start-ups: an empirical analysis. J Technol Transf 35(1):113–140
De Paoli P (1987) Ambitious plans for CNR give hope to Italian scientists. J Technol Transf 327(6121):358
Fini R, Grimaldi R, Sobrero M (2009) Factors fostering academics to start up new ventures: an assessment of Italian founders’ incentives. J Technol Transf 34(4):380–402
Fritsch M, Krabel S (2012) Ready to leave the ivory tower?: academic scientists’ appeal to work in the private sector. J Technol Transf 37(3):271–296
Heirman A, Clarysse B (2004) How and why do research-based start-ups differ at founding? A resource-based configurational perspective. J Technol Transf 29(3–4):247–268
Iacobucci D, Micozzi A, Micucci G (2013) Gli spin-off universitari in Italia: un quadro del fenomeno e un’analisi della governace e della performance [University spin-offs in Italy: a framework of the phenomenon and an analysis of the governance and of the performance]. L’Industria XXXIV(4):761–783
Krabel S, Mueller P (2009) What drives scientists to start their own company? An empirical investigation of Max Planck society scientists. Res Policy 38(6):947–956
Mustar P, Renault M, Colombo MG, Piva E, Fontes M, Lockett A, Wright M, Clarysse B, Moray N (2006) Conceptualising the heterogeneity of research-based spin-offs: a multi-dimensional taxonomy. Res Policy 35:298–308
Netval (2013) X Rapporto sulla valorizzazione della ricerca pubblica italiana, Milan. www.netval.it
Nosella A, Grimaldi R (2009) University-level mechanisms supporting the creation of new companies: an analysis of Italian academic spin-offs. Technol Anal Strat Manag 21(6):679–698
Salvador E (2009) Evolution of Italian Universities’ rules for spin-offs: the usefulness of formal regulations. Ind High Educ 23(6):445–462
Salvador E (2011) How effective are research spin-off firms in Italy? Revue d’Economie Industrielle 133:99–122
Salvador E, Rolfo S (2011) Are incubators and science parks effective for research spin-offs? Evidence from Italy. Sci Public Policy 38(3):170–184
Science (1928) Vol. 67(1731):233–234
Science (1929) Vol. 69(1784):263
Tuzi F (2005) Useful science is good science: empirical evidence from the Italian National Research Council. Technovation 25(5):505–512
Villani E (2013) How external support may mitigate the barriers to university-industry collaboration. Economia e Politica Industriale 40(4):117–145
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the General Direction of CNR, and in particular Dr. Ermanno Vianello, for the help offered in the preparation of this work, and Ms. Sandra Bocci of I3P (Politecnico di Torino) for supplying data on Spin-offs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Finardi, U., Rolfo, S. (2016). Spin-off Creation in a National Research Institution: Technological and Industrial Implications. In: Audretsch, D., Lehmann, E., Meoli, M., Vismara, S. (eds) University Evolution, Entrepreneurial Activity and Regional Competitiveness. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17713-7_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17713-7_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17712-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17713-7
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)