Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the role of university knowledge spillovers in fostering innovative startup firms, measured by R&D intensity, an important predictor of firm innovation and productivity. We use annual data from the Kauffman Firm Survey of a representative cohort of U.S. startups over the period 2004–2011. Controlling for individual-firm characteristics and local factors, we test the effects of regional variation in R&D intensity of the higher-education sector on startup firms’ R&D expenditure decisions. We find strong effects on both extensive and intensive margins of firm R&D expenditures. Our results shed light on the role of entrepreneurs and new firm formation as a mechanism for innovation and universities as an important source of knowledge and technology transfer.
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Acknowledgements
The author “Leonard Sabetti” is grateful for financial support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the SSHRC through the Network to Study Productivity in Canada from a Firm-Level Perspective.
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Sabetti, L. (2016). University Knowledge Spillovers and Innovative Startup Firms. In: Greene, W., Khalaf, L., Sickles, R., Veall, M., Voia, MC. (eds) Productivity and Efficiency Analysis. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23228-7_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23228-7_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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