Academic entrepreneurship as a source of innovation for sustainable development
Patrycja Sieg, Iwona Posadzińska, Marek Jóźwiak
Abstract
The article comprises an analysis of academic entrepreneurship, from the perspective of innovation and sustainability. It aims to identify and assess the innovation and eco-innovation support programs implemented by academics at higher education institutions. The paper presents the typology of innovation and associated concepts, including the notion of innovation for sustainable development (eco-innovation). It also reviews the existing literature in the field of academic entrepreneurship, which is a broad concept, requiring a unique and geographically specific approach. The following research methods were adopted - case study (the subject of the study was the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer), based on document analysis, and structured interviews with a purposively selected group of academic innovation developers. The analysis conducted allows a conclusion that one of the main barriers to the implementation of innovation is the lack of adequate funds for research task implementation. The analyzed Innovation Incubator program, despite its significant contribution to the sustainable support of innovation, requires certain changes and improvements to ameliorate the cooperation between the academic circles and business.