Commercialisation of biosciences research in Oman: the entrepreneurial challenge

This research examines the process of knowledge commercialisation in a fledging national innovation ecosystem. The thesis investigates the Omani biosciences sector and its attempts to leverage its contribution to the national economy through knowledge-based activities. It focuses on the commercialisation actors and the transformation to the entrepreneurial paradigm since mid-1990s. More specifically, it seeks to understand the knowledge commercialisation in the context of the national systems of innovation and considers three main components: actors and institutions, networks, and the national support mechanisms. Theoretically, this study draws on three strands of theory, which are the National Innovation Systems (NIS), the Triple Helix (TH) model of innovation and Network Theory (NT). These theories are advanced by considering the institutional setting of the bio-sector and the social and cultural dimensions of the actors. Empirically the thesis is informed by mixed methods of questionnaire, semi-structured interviews that were conducted in Muscat in 2014, and the analysis of policy documents. This thesis indicates that the Omani bio-sector represents a significant emerging setting for knowledge commercialisation process that involves the connection and co-development of actors, knowledge, and networks between the existing domains of practice (academia, government and industry). It contributes to understanding the extent of the influence of the entrepreneurial culture and the social dimension of the actors. It shows that the locus of innovation and knowledge production is the academic sphere and knowledge exchange between the actors is phase-dependent. The thesis suggests that geographic co-location is not the key prerequisite for effective interaction whereas innovation intermediaries play an important role based on their position and situation. Within the embryonic setting of knowledge entrepreneurship in the bio-sector, small-scale government initiatives have proven to be more efficient. Finally, the thesis concludes that the actors for commercialisation should develop a more sophisticated understanding of the concept and settings in which technical and tacit knowledge is formed, and of the means and mechanisms through which commercialisation practices might be enhanced