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PurposeThis study examined differences related to gender and racial/ethnic identity among academic researchers participating in the National Science Foundation’s “Innovation-Corps” (NSF I-Corps) entrepreneurship training program. Drawing from prior research in the fields of technology entrepreneurship and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, this study addresses the goal of broadening participation in academic entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approachUsing ANOVA and MANOVA analyses, we tested for differences by gender and minoritized racial/ethnic identity for four variables considered pertinent to successful program outcomes: (1) prior entrepreneurial experience, (2) perceptions of instructional climate, (3) quality of project team interactions and (4) future entrepreneurial intention. The sample includes faculty (n = 434) and graduate students (n = 406) who completed pre- and post-course surveys related to a seven-week nationwide training program. FindingsThe findings show that group differences based on minoritized racial/ethnic identity compared with majority group identity were largely not evident. Previous research findings were replicated for only one variable, indicating that women report lower amounts of total prior entrepreneurial experience than men, but no gender differences were found for other study variables. Originality/valueOur analyses respond to repeated calls for research in the fields of entrepreneurship and STEM education to simultaneously examine intersecting minoritized and/or under-represented social identities to inform recruitment and retention efforts. The unique and large I-Corps national dataset offered the statistical power to quantitatively test for differences between identity groups. We discuss the implications of the inconsistencies in our analyses with prior findings, such as the need to consider selection bias.
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This content will become publicly available on December 15, 2026
Bridging the intention-behavior gap in academic entrepreneurship: the impact of training on faculty and graduate student researchers
PurposeUniversities and government agencies offer academic scientists entrepreneurship training and resources to catalyze their involvement in technology commercialization activity. This study investigates the impact of such training on the entrepreneurial intention and behaviors of graduate students and faculty researchers, focusing on factors that moderate these effects. Design/methodology/approachData were collected through pre-, post- and longitudinal quantitative surveys administered to 3,455 participants in the National Science Foundation I-Corps Teams program in the United States. The analysis involved repeated-measures ANOVA to assess changes in entrepreneurial intention and binary logistic regression to predict entrepreneurial behavior over time. FindingsThe first set of analyses revealed that the impact of entrepreneurial training on intention was moderated by three key factors: (1) professional role (Ph.D. student or faculty member), (2) prior entrepreneurial experience, and (3) the perceived potential of a specific technology commercialization project. Longitudinal analyses revealed that perceived project potential, followed by prior entrepreneurial experience, were the strongest moderators affecting the strength of the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and actual entrepreneurial behavior. Originality/valueAt a theoretical level, this study advances our understanding of the intention–behavior gap in academic entrepreneurship by identifying key moderating factors – professional role, prior entrepreneurial experience and project potential – that influence how intentions translate into actions. At an applied level, it explores how immersive programs such as I-Corps influence academic scientist engagement in startup activities at research universities.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2048612
- PAR ID:
- 10653637
- Publisher / Repository:
- Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
- Volume:
- 32
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 1462-6004
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 83 to 108
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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