Entrepreneurial university: a case study at Stony Brook University

Abstract

Purpose

A business school within a research university can improve the startup process and success on and near campus. The purpose of this paper is to show the mutual benefits to business and science students in learning about startups and to helping startups grow. The mutual benefit comes from the student understanding and the startup managing the complementary roles of inventor, entrepreneur, and investor.

Design/methodology/approach

A case analysis using participant observation, interviews, and document review of the Innovation Center in the College of Business at the Stony Brook University tracks the development of the Center’s educational, research, and consulting activity with engineering departments, incubators, and other support services on campus.

Findings

Inventor, investor, and entrepreneurship roles were supported and coordinated by science and business faculties and students in the university. This process, described in specific courses and programs for MBAs and BBAs, includes the contribution of business academic faculty, serial entrepreneur mentors and the scientists in partner organizations that also support startups inside and outside the university. The number of business plans written by students grew from 10 to 100 a year, startups begun from 1 to 5 a year, and established startups renewed grew from 10 a year to 20 a year over five year period.

Practical implications

This case can be useful to research universities and business schools that want to improve the startup process and success.

Originality/value

This study shows that the role of students in the business school in a research university is to transform inventive ideas from the sciences to innovations in the market place through entrepreneurial activity.

Citation

Wolf, G. (2017), "Entrepreneurial university: a case study at Stony Brook University", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 36 No. 2, pp. 286-294. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-06-2016-0113