New Publication in Small Business Economics
We are pleased to announce the publication of a new article entitled “More knowledge, more entrepreneurs? An investigation of the science and cluster policy mix in Germany,” authored by David B. Audretsch (Indiana University), Erik E. Lehmann (University of Augsburg), Matthias Menter (Friedrich Schiller University Jena), and Nikolaus Seitz (Bauhaus University Weimar), published in Small Business Economics.
The study examines the relationship between knowledge and entrepreneurship within the framework of the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KSTE). While the theory suggests that increasing knowledge stocks and flows should automatically lead to higher levels of entrepreneurship, this assumption remains contested. The article investigates how the combination of science and cluster policies in Germany shapes entrepreneurial activity by influencing knowledge spillovers. Science policies primarily aim to enhance research and knowledge creation, whereas cluster policies foster knowledge flows through collaboration among firms, universities, and research institutions. Contrary to theoretical expectations, the findings reveal that regions exposed to both policy types do not experience a corresponding increase in innovative entrepreneurship. Instead, knowledge spillovers mainly stimulate intrapreneurship within incumbent firms. The study concludes that simply increasing knowledge production is insufficient to drive innovation and innovative entrepreneurship. Rather, the transfer and absorption of knowledge play a decisive role, with important implications for innovation and entrepreneurship policy design.
Full article available here: