Evaluating a regional support network for technology-based entrepreneurship: The case of Connect Scotland

This thesis examines a regional enterprise support network in the UK Connect Scotland. There are several conceptual and theoretical gaps regarding the creation, evolution and effectiveness of formal support networks to stimulate technologybased entrepreneurship and new enterprise creation. One is the need to establish more clearly when and why such networks really matter in the exploitation and commercialisation of technology-based opportunities. This clarification is made difficult by the evolving nature of networks over time and lack of definition of units of analysis e.g. network, region, enterprise, entrepreneur and knowledge creator. Few studies have examined how regional support networks have helped create 'successful' technology regions similar to Silicon Valley by informing practice and policy decisions. Finally, it is not clearly understood what the roles and activities of various public and private agents are and how they enable or constrain technologybased innovation exploitation and enterprise creation in a regional context. A study of a regional enterprise support network Connect Scotland during its formative years (1997-2002) provided the research case. A methodology was developed from process evaluation guidelines, Molina's socio-technical constituency model and Van de Ven' s social system framework in order to evaluate a regional support network over time. The methodology used the network and its primary stakeholders private sponsors, universities and technology companies as units of analysis to examine the evolution of network support processes and effects on all active stakeholders of the network rather than simply new enterprises. Empirical research included assessment of network event and participation data over 5 years (1997-2001); two value surveys, in 1999 and 2001 of 116 stakeholders; 6 cases studies of early-stage technology companies, interviews with over 50 stakeholders between 1999 and 2002 and examination of 5 other regional mechanisms that influence Connect's impact and effectiveness. In summary, over half of the Connect network was assessed. Findings showed key factors in building a national network including strong evidence of intervention need, early support from key private and public sector leaders, identification of clear benefits for stakeholders and a formal, integrated set of recurrent events with targets to ensure event quality and stakeholder mix. High levels of sponsorship renewal were found to result from a combination of altruistic support for Scottish technology and specific benefits being realised through network participation while retention of young technology companies in the network was more affected by sectoral and market conditions. Perceived social, knowledge, and financial value derived by stakeholders was found to evolve between 1999 and 2001 and supported literature that knowledge and financial value becomes more important as social interactions develop among active network participants. Intangible social and knowledge benefits are more immediately realised by Connect stakeholders, whilst tangible investment benefits are traced to those enterprises with clearly superior technologies that are allowed to present at Connect's investment events. Case studies indicated that Connect's benefits to these companies are most pronounced in their formative years. Findings indicate that Connect's 2001 transition to a private company and new network management model challenges facilitation of extensive intangible multi-stakeholder benefits regionally and university-industry stakeholder exchange as more tangible benefits to private sponsors and to 'highpotential' technology enterprises take precedence.