Track 12 - Bridging Science and Entrepreneurship: When Universities Foster Entrepreneurial Capabilities 

Track leaders:  

• Yabo Octave Niamié, Polytechnique Montréal, Canada 

• Sophie Veilleux, Université Laval, Canada 

• Sarah Lubik, Simon Fraser University, Canada  

Throughout history, universities have been critical in addressing major societal challenges. In the past, when shifts such as globalization, industrial relocation toward low-wage countries, and decreasing corporate investment in R&D drove change, universities partnered with industries and governments to generate new knowledge and new technology, driving employment, productivity, and economic growth. Universities are expected to become even more entrepreneurial, fostering the knowledge translation and commercialization of innovative solutions. Entrepreneurship is important for training students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to expand career opportunities and develop skills that could be useful for founding a venture or other paths of technology commercialization. This track invites scholars to propose papers that examine how universities are bridging the gap between invention, science and the market, creating dynamic startups and solutions to address these global challenges. We are particularly interested in (but not limited to) research that delves into developing entrepreneurial capabilities within STEM researchers and students.