Moving beyond the paradox : Searching for the key factors in research commercialization

That economic growth is stimulated by innovation, research and development (R&D) and academic entrepreneurship is one key finding of innovation literature in recent years, and a basis for modern innovation policy (Fagerberg (2006)). The challenge for European policy in general – and Swedish policy in specific – has been the ‘paradox’ of high investment into R&D, but the low returns in growth (Edquist and McKelvey 1991). Dosi et al (2006), Ejermo (2005) among others have argued that the paradox argument is based upon an incorrect linear view from science to new products, and each author adds their specific recommendations and mechanisms for growth. This paper tackles the ‘paradox’ view in a different way, namely by examining whether European academics actually are quite so reluctant towards commercializing theirresearch as is commonly assumed in literature addressing the paradox.

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