Social networks and the entrepreneurial process in molecular biotechnology in Portugal: from science to industry

Abstract

This paper addresses the network building strategies followed by Portuguese biotechnology start-ups, as well as their implications for the configuration of firms’ networks. Results show that firms combine the use of entrepreneurs’ social capital with an effort to build up new relationships, thus allowing the resource search space to be expanded. The network building strategy is influenced by the team’s characteristics and the nature of the resources searched (knowledge, complementary assets, credibility), which generate different network structures. Results also highlight context-related specificities, such as the central role of research organizations in accessing non-technological resources and the relevance of international relationships.