Entrepreneurial spin‐off enterprises in Göteborg, Sweden

This paper focuses on the development of technology‐based entrepreneurial spin‐offs in the Göteborg region. Employment growth and patenting activities of university spin‐offs (USOs) from Chalmers University of Technology are compared with the development of other new technology‐based firms. The results indicate that the majority of the Chalmers USOs are very small firms with low growth. Corporate spin‐offs (CSOs) are found to grow faster than other technology‐based firms, both USOs and non‐spin‐offs. However, the Chalmers USOs are found to be more successful in terms of patenting activities. It is speculated that USOs are especially beneficial to regional development when they are acting as technology suppliers to other local companies.