Abstract:

This research aims to understand the factors that contribute to venture creation within a specific pool of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal – state-owned HEIs – through innovation networks. The paper reviews the literature on current approaches on firm creation through models of innovation networks and analyses data collected through a questionnaire completed by 255 nascent entrepreneurs who, in one form or another, had attended HEIs with the specific purpose of developing their entrepreneurial capacity. The data was submitted to factor analysis and logistic regression model and results show that cooperation and development of relationships with other agents in the innovation network emerge as the main form through which HEIs stimulate firm creation.