Capability factors in changing patterns of international knowledge relationships of university spin-off firms in Northwest Europe

Industrial competence is increasingly dispersed across the globe, urging technology-based firmsin Europe to establish international knowledge relationships, sometimes even at larger distances.This paper examines patterns of international knowledge relationships and the influence ofcapability factors of university spin-off firms on building such relationships and changes herein,using a sample of 105 of firms in Northwest European countries. In early patterns, 62 per cent ofthe sampled firms employed knowledge relationships abroad. Remarkably, these relationshipsoften cross continents, witness the spin-offs active outside of Europe outnumbering the onesactive within Europe (33.5 versus 28.5 per cent). The main capability factors affecting theseearly relationships tend to be PhD education in the founding team, participation in training, andthe capability to innovate on a practical level that responds to market demand. Subsequentchanges have led to a high overall internationalization in knowledge relationships of 82 per cent,but also reveal diverse trends among spin-offs, namely, no change for one third of then versus anincrease of spatial reach for another one third. This result points to absence of an overall patternof evolving steps, except for the trend that later relationships are mainly influenced by previouspatterns.Economics of Technology and Innovatio