Entrepreneurial Intention of Researchers at the State Polytechnic University of Carchi

10.22579/23463910.1348
Published 2026-06-08
content - research articles

Abstract

Problem Statement. This study addresses a critical gap in the Ecuadorian science and technology system: the weak connection between research activities carried out at universities and the effective generation of knowledge-based businesses. In particular, it aimed to diagnose the level of entrepreneurial intention among active research staff at the State Polytechnic University of Carchi (UPEC) between 2015 and 2020. Objective. This research aims to determine the entrepreneurial intentions of researchers at the State Polytechnic University of Carchi (UPEC) who conducted research activities between 2015 and 2020. Materials and Methods. Entrepreneurial intention was measured from three perspectives: scientific profile, demographic profile, and entrepreneurial profile. To achieve this objective, a 93-item questionnaire, validated by experts in the field, was developed and administered to a sample of 30 individuals, including research professors, administrators, and authorities of the Higher Education Institution. The sampling method used was purposive and non-probabilistic. Results. Among the main findings, a medium level (57.74 out of 100) in the entrepreneurial intention of UPEC researchers stands out. The profile that contributed most to this result was the entrepreneurial profile (66%), followed by the scientific profile (47%). Discussion. Although there is great entrepreneurial and scientific potential among researchers, their capacity to initiate and manage ventures needs improvement to enhance the quality and impact of research results. Conclusions. Finally, generating institutional support, spaces, and incentives is key, as is strengthening support networks alliances with the productive, public, and private sectors, and a leading role for academia in shaping the regional entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Contribution/Originality. There is very little research on entrepreneurial intention applied to university researchers in Ecuador. We hope to contribute to this knowledge base, motivate innovation and technology transfer, and foster the development of science- and technology based ventures in Ecuadorian higher education institutions.

Keywords

Categories

Similar Articles

41-50 of 232

Authors

References

Ajzen I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T

Azoulay, P., Jones, B. F., Kim, J. D., & Miranda, J. (2018). Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship (Working Paper No. 24489). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w24489

Cunningham JA. (2022). COVID-19: Entrepreneurial Universities and Academic Entrepreneurship. In: Audretsch, D.B., Kunadt, I.A.M, ed. The COVID-19 Crisis and Entrepreneurship. International Studies in Entrepreneurship. Springer, Cham, 2022, pp.209-227. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04655-1_15

Duval-Couetil, N; Wang, Yi; Epstein, A. (2025). Bridging the intention-behavior gap in academic entrepreneurship: the impact of training on faculty and graduate student researchers. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 32(8), 83-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-04-2024-0184

Guindalini, C; Verreynne, M; Kastelle, T. (2021). Scientific inventions to market: Mapping the academic entrepreneurship ecosystem, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173. https://cnica Estatal del Carchi doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121144. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162521005771

Ismail, K.; Anuar M,; Omar W. et al. (2015). Entrepreneurial Intention, Entrepreneurial Orientation of Faculty and Students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 181, 349-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.897

Krueger, N. F., Reilly, M.D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15,411-432.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00033-0

Liñán, F., & Fayolle, A. (2015). A systematic literature review on entrepreneurial intentions. citation, thematic analyses, and research agenda. Int Entrep Manag J, 11, 907–933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-015-0356-5

Martins, J. M.; Shahzad, M. F., y Xu, S. (2023). Factors influencing entrepreneurial intention to initiate new ventures. J Innov Entrep, 12(63). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-023-00333-9

Mejía, J. (2012). Modelo de creación de empresas de tecnología, basadas en el perfil del científico-emprendedor. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. https://tesis.ipn.mx/handle/123456789/11842

Obschonka, M., Moeller, J., & Goethner, M. (2019). Entrepreneurial passion and personality: The case of academic entrepreneurship. Front Psychol, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02697

Perkmann, M., et al. (2013). Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature. Research Policy, 42(2), 23-442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.09.007.

Quinde, J., Peña, S. (2022) Intención emprendedora para los investigadores de la Universidad de Cuenca. [Tesis de grado en Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad de Cuenca]. http://dspace.ucuenca.edu.ec/handle/123456789/39463

Shapero, A., & Sokol, L. (1982). The social dimensions of entrepreneurship. Referencia histórica de investigación sobre emprendimiento de la Academia de Liderazgo Empresarial de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign. https://ssrn.com/abstract=1497759

Tarapuez-Chamorro, E; Álvarez-Rodríguez, C; Hidalgo-Villota, ME. (2022). Actitudes e intención emprendedora en docentes investigadores en Colombia. Revista EAN, (93). https://doi.org/10.21158/01208160.n93.2022.3715

Yu, Z.; Lu, K. (2023). What motivates academics toward entrepreneurship? Front Psychol, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1073866

OECD/CAF/UN ECLAC/Development Bank of Latin America (2024). SME Policy Index: Latin America

and the Caribbean 2024 – Country Profile: Ecuador. https://www.oecd.org/es/publications/indice-de-politicas-para-pymes-america-latina-y-el-caribe-2024_807e9eaf-es.html

StartupBlink (2025). Ecuador Startup Ecosystem - Rankings, Startups, and Insights. https://lp.startupblink.com/report/

Statistics

Abstract
0
PDF accesses
0

Dimensions

PlumX

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.