CFP: Technology Entrepreneurship (SEJ)

[entrepreneurship-phd at lists.uni-due.de]

Call for Papers: Technology Entrepreneurship
Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal and the Strategic Management Society
 
Background and Purpose
This special issue will explore research questions at the nexus of entrepreneurship and technology, an intriguing and significant research domain that offers numerous opportunities for substantial scholarly inquiry. Technology entrepreneurship draws from two well-established, but related fields-entrepreneurship and technical innovation. The challenge for technical entrepreneurs is not only to create a new business, but also often to invent and commercialize new technologies and shape nascent markets. The challenge for policy makers and other institutional actors is to frame the context in which such entrepreneurs will emerge and prosper. The intent of this special issue is to provide a forum to advance our understanding of the research issues that fall at this nexus. 

We invite scholars from entrepreneurship, strategy, innovation, economics, history, sociology, organizational behavior, and technology studies to contribute papers to this special issue. We welcome studies that: (1) employ a variety of methodologies, from statistical, simulation, and mathematical modeling to case-study techniques; (2) examine multiple levels of analysis that may include the entrepreneurial team, technology, firm, industry and country; (3) employ traditional as well as emerging theoretical approaches such as bricolage, effectuation, and improvisation; (4) examine the creation or transformation of technology-based industries; and (5) study venture formation in novel industry and institutional settings. 

Research Questions
We seek papers that provide new theoretical perspectives and/or empirical insights to study and understand technology entrepreneurship in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. Topics of interest include, but are not limited, to the following. 

. Although many studies of entrepreneurship focus on individual entrepreneurs, teams of co-founders typically join together in launching technology-based businesses. How do these teams effectively work together? Do the characteristics of the co-founders influence the recognition of technological opportunities and their subsequent development? How do co-founders share ownership?
. Context is likely to play a key role in the formation and evolution of technology-based businesses. How do regulatory and tax policies affect such ventures? Is technology entrepreneurship driven by discoveries in basic science, M&A and IPO activity, number of technically-trained professionals, national culture, or other factors? What is the interplay between technology-based ventures and established firms? How do the dynamics of technical ecosystems, rivalry, and platform-based industries influence the strategies of technical entrepreneurs? 
. Much research on technology entrepreneurship uses the biotechnology and semiconductor industries as its setting. As a result, we know less about entrepreneurial activity in novel areas such as ventures that rely on user-driven technical innovations, pursue technical innovations for education, and target technologies for developing economies. Is technology entrepreneurship different in these settings? 
. Since universities are often sources of the new technologies that create entrepreneurial opportunities, studies are needed to explicate the roles of these actors. What are the strategies that universities employ to aid in the emergence and growth of technology-based firms? How does technical knowledge diffuse from university research to potential entrepreneurs? What role do academic scientists play in the venture creation process? 
. Intellectual property is central to technology entrepreneurship. What are the various approaches to both formal and informal IP protection undertaken by technology entrepreneurs? What are the implications of these approaches for venture performance and industry evolution? How do these approaches influence the returns to technical innovation?
. A significant number of technology-based ventures are funded by venture capital, corporate venture capital, and angel investors. But, these investors often go beyond providing financial resources. How do these investors nurture venture success? Do these investors differentially influence firm outcomes such as innovation and growth? How is corporate governance affected by the presence of diverse investors?
. Recognizing the challenges of degraded natural environments and expensive energy, entrepreneurs are launching ventures that promote sustainable business practices and commercialize clean and/or energy efficient technologies. What unique managerial practices and business models are employed in these firms? Which policy interventions encourage their formation and growth? 
. Technology entrepreneurs who seek to advance social ends rather than just commercial ones are becoming increasingly prominent. How do these entrepreneurs create value? Who captures the value that is created? How can these entrepreneurs benefit from customer creation of content, client empowerment, and open source business models? Does the emergence of technology ventures addressing social concerns influence other institutional actors such as NGOs and national governments? 
 
Deadline, Submission and Review Process: The deadline for submission is November 15, 2010. Please indicate that you would like your manuscript to be considered for the special issue. To learn more about the SEJ and this special Issue, including Submission Guidelines and the online submission process, please visit http://sej.strategicmanagement.net. Papers will be reviewed using the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal's normal double-blind process.
 
Deadline: November 15, 2010
Issue Date: June 1, 2012
Website: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/sej 

Contact Info:  
Lois Gast
phone: 765-496-2324
email address: lgast at wiley.com
- Address -
425 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
United States