The innovation performance of research spin-offs and the moderating role of absorptive capacity

Research spin-offs (RSOs) are new high-tech ventures promoted and launched by academic researchers who aim to exploit the results of their previous research projects(Clarysse et al., 2011). Empirical evidences show that RSOs face some difficulties in achieving satisfactory innovation performances(Agarwal and Audretsch, 2001; Agarwal et al., 2002). In other words, they cannot easily launch new products/services or introduce new technologies on the final market. In order to clarify this phenomenon, entrepreneurial scholars are currently interested in investigating the antecedents, the dynamics and the processes that can affect RSOs innovation performances(Nerkarand Shane, 2003; Ensley and Hmieleski, 2005; Rotharmael and Thursby, 2007; Zahra et al.,2007; Zhang, 2009; Wennberg et al., 2011). In an attempt to contribute to this field of research, we aim to develop atheoretical model rooted in the resource-based view (RBV) and in the institutional link perspective(ILP). Particularly, we aim to focus on the resources available when new RSOs are launched(the antecedents) and on inter-organizational routines (the dynamics and the processes).We try to investigate their impact on the RSOs innovation performance and, above all, we consider the mediatingrole of absorptive capacity, i.e. a firm’s ability to recognize, assimilate and apply external knowledge