Personal networks in emerging knowledge-based firms: spatial and functional patterns

The commercialization of high technology and professional knowledge is often organized by individuals and firms within networks. Operational models of the personal network entrepreneurs build both individually (egocentric networks) and collectively as members of the small–firm clusters (sociocentric networks), which are presented and applied to Swedish data. Entrepreneurs in knowledge–based firms, when compared with traditional firms, invest more time in networking and also build more focused networks. Academic entrepreneurs in science parks establish less dense local networks than traditional entrepreneurs in the industrial districts. A panel analysis suggests that the differences between knowledge–based and traditional firms with respect to personal networking are reduced over time.