Research on the influencing factors and paths of the growth of S&T startups

doi:10.19571/j.cnki.1000-2995.2025.09.011

Abstract

Abstract: S&T startups are the driving force for technological innovation. They also play an important role in achieving innovation-driven and high-quality development. But its high mortality rate and short lifespan cannot be ignored, and its growth mechanism is still a black box. To further explore the influencing factors and paths of the growth of S&T startups, this paper expanded the entrepreneurial process model based on China′s national conditions and the characteristics of S&T startups, and thus proposed an EEOR analysis model with Chinese characteristics for the growth of S&T startups. Meanwhile, the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was used to conduct configuration analysis on the case of S&T startups in City A. This study aims to enrich and improve the theoretical system for the growth of S&T startups, provide theoretical support and practical basis for the formulation of support policies for S&T entrepreneurship in China, and provide specific suggestions and methodological guidance for the operation of S&T startups. The research found that: (1) The influencing factors of the growth of S&T startups in China are mainly divided into four dimensions: entrepreneur, environment, organization, and resource. (2) The growth of S&T startups is very complicated, and a single condition has weak explanatory power for enterprise growth. (3) Different influencing factors promote the growth of S&T startups through a combination of linkage, and there are mainly three high growth driving paths: the first path is driven by entrepreneur, resource, and non-governmental environment; the second path is driven by resource and environment; and the third path is driven by organization, resource and governmental environment. (4) Under specific conditions, the ability of entrepreneur can replace each other with governmental environment, enhancing the growth potential of S&T startups. The research conclusion of this paper will provide useful insights for the government to formulate S&T entrepreneurship support policies according to circumstances, and for startups to choose development paths that are suitable for themselves to combine their own conditions and endowments.

Key words: S&T startup, enterprise growth, growth influencing factor, growth path

Xu Ran, Li Xiaoxuan. Research on the influencing factors and paths of the growth of S&T startups[J]. Science Research Management, 2025, 46(9): 109-116.

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