The Effects of Knowledge Spillovers, Incubators and Accelerator Programmes on the Product Innovation of High-Tech Start-Ups: A Mixed Methods Approach
type: CreativeWork
description: The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KTSE) focuses on exploring how entrepreneurs use uncommercialised knowledge spillovers into funding a new venture. This phenomenon explores the role of geographical proximity on the exploration of entrepreneurial opportunities that result in the creation of start-ups that promote the evaluation of the economic growth in regions. However, the definition of knowledge spillovers and the mechanisms measurements to evaluate high-tech entrepreneurs during the first years of operation continues to be an elusive research area in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. This doctoral thesis seeks to shed light on the effects of knowledge spillovers, incubators, and accelerators on high-tech start-ups performance and survival. Knowledge Spillovers research focuses on the effects of economics and the characteristics of countries on start-ups. However, there is a clear gap in stating a definition of knowledge spillovers and taxonomy with other disciplines. Research so far assumes that entrepreneurs automatically absorb knowledge spillovers. This work takes a different approach by identifying the processes, mechanisms and companies that facilitate using knowledge spillovers towards innovation. The doctoral research focused on obtaining primary data from entrepreneurs at the individual level. The study conducted a sequential mixed method exploratory design to empirically develop a model that identifies the types of knowledge spillovers used by companies at the seed and growth stages. A qualitative phase conducted a multiple-case study approach involving 32 semi-structured interviews with chief executive officers and co-founders of high-tech start-ups that attended incubator and accelerator programmes in Greater London, United Kingdom. The resultant conceptual model identified the start-up's strategic decisions to form alliances and partnerships through accelerator programmes, incubators and networking events. The results al…
abstract: The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KTSE) focuses on exploring how entrepreneurs use uncommercialised knowledge spillovers into funding a new venture. This phenomenon explores the role of geographical proximity on the exploration of entrepreneurial opportunities that result in the creation of start-ups that promote the evaluation of the economic growth in regions. However, the definition of knowledge spillovers and the mechanisms measurements to evaluate high-tech entrepreneurs during the first years of operation continues to be an elusive research area in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. This doctoral thesis seeks to shed light on the effects of knowledge spillovers, incubators, and accelerators on high-tech start-ups performance and survival. Knowledge Spillovers research focuses on the effects of economics and the characteristics of countries on start-ups. However, there is a clear gap in stating a definition of knowledge spillovers and taxonomy with other disciplines. Research so far assumes that entrepreneurs automatically absorb knowledge spillovers. This work takes a different approach by identifying the processes, mechanisms and companies that facilitate using knowledge spillovers towards innovation. The doctoral research focused on obtaining primary data from entrepreneurs at the individual level. The study conducted a sequential mixed method exploratory design to empirically develop a model that identifies the types of knowledge spillovers used by companies at the seed and growth stages. A qualitative phase conducted a multiple-case study approach involving 32 semi-structured interviews with chief executive officers and co-founders of high-tech start-ups that attended incubator and accelerator programmes in Greater London, United Kingdom. The resultant conceptual model identified the start-up's strategic decisions to form alliances and partnerships through accelerator programmes, incubators and networking events. The results al…
author: Cuvero Calero, M.
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:01:30Z
provider: University of Westminster
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Westminster

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.34737/v35z1