Abstract:     The spin-offs from SOEs are the entities of innovation that stimulate the vitality of the public sector of the economy, and they need to become national strategic scientific and technological strength on the basis of coordinating the parent-child relationship. However, the process and path of how spin-offs from SOEs can achieve identity transition are still unclear. Through an exploratory single case study on China Mobile (Suzhou) Software Technology Co., Ltd., based on the perspective of strategic entrepreneurship, we found that: (1) the identity construction process of spin-offs from SOEs is driven by the national identity expectation and initial identity dependence, which brings the gap of ability between the actual identity and the expected identity; (2) determining the identity climbing crevice is the preceding guidance mechanism for organizational identity construction of spin-offs from SOEs, which provides a logical basis for strategic entrepreneurship actions from the cognitive dimension through current identity reflection and future identity aspiration; (3) Strategic entrepreneurship action is the core promotion mechanism to achieve the organizational identity transition of spin-offs from SOEs. Strategic leveraging with internalization and creating differentiated advantages are core means to leap over the identity climbing crevice; (4) Based on strategic entrepreneurship actions, spin-offs from SOEs constantly improve the organizational ability, which helps match the complex requirements of identity construction; and spin-offs from SOEs successfully achieve the national expectation and empower the identity change of the parent, and the organizational identity makes a smooth transition. This study has deepened the understanding of the uniqueness of spin-offs under the state-owned context, expands the research on organizational identity construction and strategic entrepreneurship, and it will provide management insights for promoting the deepening reforms and innovation development of state-owned enterprises.

Key words: state-owned enterprise (SOE), spin-off, organizational identity construction, strategic entrepreneurship, case study