University knowledge and the creation of innovative start-ups: an analysis of the Italian case

Grounding on the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship, this paper advances research on innovative start-ups by studying whether and how university knowledge fosters the creation of these firms at the local level. First, we contend that geographical proximity shapes the impact of university knowledge on the creation of innovative start-ups in a geographical area. In other words, in this context, university knowledge spillovers are...