16418: Spinoff Ecosystems: Micro-Foundations, Intermediaries, and Performance Metrics

University spinoff ecosystems comprise diverse actors from the private sector, state-run entities, and university-affiliated entities, aiming to transfer technology from university laboratories to the market (Clayton et al., 2018; Good et al., 2020). Ecosystems have gained considerable scholarly attention because of the key role they play in facilitating innovation, and in the growth and success of both participating spinoffs and broader regions (Cosenz et al., 2024; Hayter et al, 2018; Heaton et al., 2019). Extant research describes ecosystems as complex environments, but studies have focused predominantly on transaction dyads or, alternatively, adopted an overarching macro-perspective (Abootorabi et al., 2021; Cosenz et al., 2024; Roundy & Lyons, 2023) that often neglects strategic and systemic conceptualizations of ecosystems and their effects (Hayter et al., 2018; Gianodis et al., 2016). Significant gaps remain in our understanding of ecosystem microfoundations (Cosenz et al., 2024; Roundy et al., 2022), and the role that ecosystem structure, complexity, coordination mechanisms, and participant interactions play in ecosystem success (Heaton et al., 2019). What is more, the very metrics that are used to assess success remain confounded (Hayter et al., 2018), as ecosystem participants might have divergent or even conflicting goals (Gotsopoulos & Pitsakis, 2024). This symposium delves deeper into such still open questions, aiming specifically to shed more light on the role of ecosystem intermediaries, to link micro-level factors (e.g., actors, structures, and processes) to macro-level outcomes such as spinoff success, to bridge spinoff ecosystem theory and practice and discuss appropriate metrics of spinoff success.