Knowledge Spillovers, knowledge filters and entrepreneurial university ecosystems. Emerging role of university-focused Venture Capital firms

In this study, the role played by investment managers from University-focused Venture Capital firms (UVCs) in knowledge spillovers in Entrepreneurial University Ecosystems (EUEs) is analysed. In the context of England, and using the lens of the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship, data from fifteen in-depth interviews with key agents of the EUEs was examined with Social Network Analysis and qualitative analysis. As contribution, we identified the emerging role of UVCs as key knowledge intermediaries in developing and sustaining EUEs. We found that UVCs are key to overcome knowledge filters and maintain dynamic relationships over time between entrepreneurial universities and University Spin-off companies. In this paper, we describe how UVCs are acting as social connectors, facilitating two-way knowledge and technology exchange in developing and sustaining EUEs.