Research Collaborations in an Academic Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Insights from a Nigerian University
Keywords:
Keywords: Research collaborations, academic entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation
Abstract
This study utilised a developed framework to identify the types of research collaborations within a university's entrepreneurial ecosystem and the perception of academics on intra- and inter-departmental collaborations. Using primary and secondary data from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Nigeria, the secondary data included 151 published articles from the 3rd University of Benin Annual Research Conference, while the primary data consisted of responses from 90 randomly selected academics across 10 faculties. Among the 151 articles, 14 were authored individually, 77 by authors from the same department, 22 by authors from different departments within the same faculty, 7 by authors from different disciplines, 18 involved authors from different universities, 7 from university-industry collaborations, 4 from university-government collaborations, and 2 from international collaborations. The findings revealed a high level of intra- and inter-departmental collaborations but a low level of interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaborations. Given the promising nature of the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is recommended that scholars at UNIBEN increase their engagement in interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research collaborations to enhance the university’s innovative capacity and its ranking in research and development.
Keywords: Research collaborations, academic entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation
References
References
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Bercovitz, J., & Feldman, M. (2006). Entrepreneurial universities and technology transfer: A conceptual framework for understanding knowledge-based economic development. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31(1), 175-188.
Boell, S. K. (2013). Professional research: A review of the literature. Journal of Professional Research, 1(1), 1-12.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Envuladu, E. A., Miner, C. A., Oloruntoba, R., Osuagwu, U. L., Mashige, K. P., Amiebenomo, O. M., Abu, E. K., Timothy, C. G., Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G., Ekpenyong, B. N., Langsi, R., Goson, P. C., Charwe, D. D., Ishaya, T., & Agho, K. E. (2022). International research collaboration during the pandemic: Team formation, challenges, strategies and achievements of the African translational research group. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221115504
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World Economic Forum. (2013). Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Around the Globe and Company. Retrieved from www.wef.org/
Wright, M., Piva, E., Mosey, S., & Lockett, A. (2017). Academic entrepreneurship and economic development. Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(5), 975-1025.
Wuchty, S., Jones, B. F., & Uzzi, B. (2007). The increasing dominance of teams in production of knowledge. Science, 316(5827), 1036-1039.
Adelowo, C. M., Ilevbare, O. E., & Morufu, O. O. (2022). Collaboration, networking and research productivity in Nigeria’s research institutes: empirical evidence. International Journal of Business Reflections, 3(2), 153-171. https://doi.org/10.56249/ijbr.03.01.32
Al Masud, A. (n.d.). Collaborative research: What it is, types & advantages. QuestionPro Blog. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/collaborative-research
Aldrich, H. E. (1990). Using Ecological Perspective to Study Organizational Founding Rates. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 14(3), 7–24.
Bercovitz, J., & Feldman, M. (2006). Entrepreneurial universities and technology transfer: A conceptual framework for understanding knowledge-based economic development. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31(1), 175-188.
Boell, S. K. (2013). Professional research: A review of the literature. Journal of Professional Research, 1(1), 1-12.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.
Envuladu, E. A., Miner, C. A., Oloruntoba, R., Osuagwu, U. L., Mashige, K. P., Amiebenomo, O. M., Abu, E. K., Timothy, C. G., Ovenseri-Ogbomo, G., Ekpenyong, B. N., Langsi, R., Goson, P. C., Charwe, D. D., Ishaya, T., & Agho, K. E. (2022). International research collaboration during the pandemic: Team formation, challenges, strategies and achievements of the African translational research group. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221115504
Etzkowitz, H. (2003). Innovation in innovation: The triple helix of university-industry-government relations. Social Science Information, 42(3), 293-337.
Froehlich, G. (2019). Elements and systems: A non-reductionist concept of elements. Systems Research and Behavioural Sciences, 361(1), 5-15. doi:10.1002/sres.2533
Grimaldi, R., Kenney, M., Siegel, D. S., & Wright, M. (2011). 30 years after Bayh-Dole: Reassessing academic entrepreneurship. Research Policy, 40(8), 1045-1057.
Hays, J. N. (2005). Epidemics and pandemics: Their impacts on human history. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Isenberg, D. J. (2010). How to start an entrepreneurial revolution. Harvard Business Review, 88 (6), 40 – 50.
Kuratko, D. F. & Hodgetts, R. M. (2004). Entrepreneurship: Theory process, and practice (6th ed.). Thomson/South-Western
Leydesdorff, L., & Etzkowitz, H. (1996). Emergence of a triple helix of university-industry-government relations. Science and Public Policy, 23(5), 279-286.
Nijkamp, P. (2003). Entrepreneurship in a Modern Network Economy. Regional Studies, 37(4), 395–405.
Obeki, O. S., & Oshio, L. E. (2025). Development of a categorisation framework for research collaborations: A typology for assessing innovation potential in Nigerian universities. An article submitted to the Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Nairobi, in March 2025, for publishing consideration.
Ogunsola, L. A. (2011). Impact of research collaboration on academic productivity in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education Research and Development, 6(1), 1-13.
O'Shea, R. P., Chugh, H., & Allen, T. J. (2008). Determinants and consequences of university spinoff activity: A conceptual framework. Journal of Technology Transfer, 33(6), 653-666.
Oxford English Dictionary. (2020). Research. In Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com
Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, B., & Adebowale, B. (2012). University-Industry Collaboration as a Determinant of Innovation in Nigeria. International Journal of Institutions and Economies, 4(1), 21-46.
Rothaermel, F. T., Agung, S. D., & Jiang, L. (2007). University entrepreneurship: A taxonomy of the literature. Industrial and Corporate Change, 16(4), 691-791.
Shane, S., & Venkataraman, S. (2000). The promise of entrepreneurship as a field of research. Academy of Management Review, 25(1), 217 – 226
Siegel, D. S., & Wright, M. (2015). Academic entrepreneurship: Time for a rethink? British Journal of Management, 26(4), 716-726.
Spigel, B. & Harrison, R. (2018). Toward a process theory of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 12(1),151-168.
Springer Nature. (2023). 5 types of research collaboration. Springer Nature Blog. https://solutions.springernature.com/blogs/visibility/5-types-of-research-collaboration/
Stam, E. & Van de Ven, A. (2018). Entrepreneurial ecosystems: A complex adaptive systems perspective. Journal of International Business Studies, 49(1), 1-14.
Stam, E. (2015). Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique. European Planning Studies, 23(9), 1759–1769.
Statista. (2024). Number of universities in Nigeria. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130701/number-of-universities-in-nigeria/
TETFund (2024). Interventions and Beneficiaries. Tertiary Education Trust Fund. Retrieved from https://www.tetfund.gov.ng.
Uwubamwen, A. E. & Obeki, O. S. (2019). Conceptualisation of Entrepreneurship and Centre for Entrepreneurship Development among Students and Graduates of Selected Universities in Benin City. Benin International Journal of Entrepreneurship Development, 1 (1), 60 -82
Van de Ven, A. H. (1993). The Development of an Infrastructure for Entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 8, 211–230.
World Economic Forum. (2013). Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Around the Globe and Company. Retrieved from www.wef.org/
Wright, M., Piva, E., Mosey, S., & Lockett, A. (2017). Academic entrepreneurship and economic development. Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(5), 975-1025.
Wuchty, S., Jones, B. F., & Uzzi, B. (2007). The increasing dominance of teams in production of knowledge. Science, 316(5827), 1036-1039.
Published
2025-05-03
How to Cite
Obeki, O. S, & Oshio, L. E. (2025). Research Collaborations in an Academic Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Insights from a Nigerian University. International Journal of Economics, Business and Innovation Research, 4(03), 255-276. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijebir.v4i03.1731
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