Business-University Alliances and Innovation in New and Adolescent Technology Ventures

The dynamic resource based view introduces the concept of capability lifecycles. Applying this theory to new and adolescent technology ventures, we propose and test a model of the sources of heterogeneous knowledge capabilities that impact innovation. We suggest that the characteristics of the top management of these ventures impacts business-university alliance formation – a critical knowledge capability that affects innovation. Building on prior research, we also examine the source of firm specific knowledge through geographical munificence. Our results suggest that there are paths to knowledge capability development and innovation and that people are critical to the building of collaborative relationships, not merely being in the right location.