Why does China lack academic entrepreneurs?——A study based on the "cognition-purpose" theory

HUANG Yong-Chun; XU Jun-Hai; XU Gao-Yan

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Science Research Management ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6) : 139-149.

Why does China lack academic entrepreneurs?——A study based on the "cognition-purpose" theory

Huang Yongchun^1,2, Xu Junhai³, Xu Gaoyan¹

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Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, great changes have taken place in the functions of universities, which not only undertake the functions of teaching and research, but also begin to play the role of social services, and gradually become the forefront of promoting economic and social development. In this context, many universities around the world pay more and more attention to the transformation of scientific research achievements, encourage researchers to innovate and start businesses, therefore, many academic entrepreneurs have emerged. Academic entrepreneurs refer to those who are different from traditional professors in scientific research institutes. They usually engage in business activities with the help of academic reputation and professional expertise, and have the dual characteristics of scientists and entrepreneurs.
However, academic entrepreneurs who are expert both in technique and management are uncommon in China. This predicament not only restricts the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, but also restricts the development of emerging industries in China. It is urgent to reveal the factors that restrict the academic entrepreneurship of Chinese researchers, and encourage researchers with entrepreneurial ability to transform into academic entrepreneurs, so as to promote the R&D and transformation of emerging scientific research achievements in China.
Based on the "cognition-purpose" theory, this study explores the driving mechanism of the academic entrepreneurship in China. It attempts to divide the types(internalization convention, identity conversion and integrated entrepreneurship) and the characteristics of the academic entrepreneurs in China. Combined with the empirical analysis, this paper constructs a mathematical model of "two-stage career choice" on human capital accumulation and reveals the constraints of the lack of the academic entrepreneurs in China. The results suggest that:(1) although a scientific researcher has high expected benefit in the academic entrepreneurship, the risk and conversion costs of the academic entrepreneurship are high. Therefore, it is necessary to create a favorable atmosphere for academic entrepreneurship, reduce the costs and risks of the academic entrepreneurship, and improve the social environment of the academic entrepreneurship.(2) When the social benefit of academic entrepreneurship is high and the conversion cost of the academic entrepreneurship is low, a scientific researcher may be transformed into an academic entrepreneur.(3) When the cost of acquiring non-scientific research skills is high and the social entrepreneurial environment is not perfect, a researcher will choose the risk aversion strategy, that is, to give up the academic entrepreneurship and engage in the academic research.
This study also provides some significant managerial implications. Researchers with entrepreneurial vision in scientific research institutions of China should:(1) based on the national science and technology development plan, combined with market demand, implement the research and development of emerging scientific and technological achievements, so as to improve the market value of scientific and technological achievements.(2) Strengthen the study of professional skills and management skills, especially the study of business management knowledge, better understand the market development trend, and avoid the phenomenon of "internal lock".(3) Strengthen opening up and innovation, accumulate social capital, and pay attention to the leverage of social resources.
At the same time, the government and research institutes should:(1) optimize the evaluation and title promotion system, guide researchers to devote themselves to the research and development and transformation of scientific research achievements.(2) construct the interest mechanism of academic entrepreneurship, clarify the right of the creators of scientific and technological achievements to use and distribute their scientific and technological achievements.(3) provide the resource guarantee of academic entrepreneurship, and provide incubation services for researchers′ academic entrepreneurship to reduce the cost and risk of academic entrepreneurship.(4) build up a service platform for academic entrepreneurship to help researchers leverage social resources, and improve the guidance and supervision, tracking support, entrepreneurial support and other service functions in the implementation of scientific and technological achievements.(5) improve the supporting system of venture capital, promote venture capital to serve researchers′ academic entrepreneurship, and provide authoritative policy interpretation and guidance. And(6) create a more relaxed entrepreneurial atmosphere, in which researchers are allowed to combine between academic organizations and enterprises according to their needs, so as to make the academic organization′s disciplinary advantages continuously transform into innovation advantages.

Key words

cognition-purpose theory / internalization convention type / identity conversion type / integrated entrepreneurship type

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Huang Yongchun, Xu Junhai, Xu Gaoyan. Why does China lack academic entrepreneurs?——A study based on the "cognition-purpose" theory[J]. Science Research Management. 2021, 42(6): 139-149

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