Academic entrepreneurial engagement for frugal innovation in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEI) are faced with increasing challenges related to shrinking resources, high operation costs, the COVID-19 pandemic, decreasing student enrolment rates, and pressure to contribute to regional development and economic growth. To overcome such challenges, academics must move beyond their traditional functions of research and teaching and engage in entrepreneurial activities. Through engagement in entrepreneurial activities, academics can contribute to frugal innovation (FI) in private HEI (PHEI). The literature in this context emphasizes that academic entrepreneurial engagement (AEE) will lead to innovation, the identification of opportunities for new business ventures, financial rewards for institutions and academics, an impact on the economy, and the enhancement of social welfare. This study presents a systematic review of the literature and adopts the Transfield five-phase strategy to review the literature on AEE from the past two decades (2000–2020). A total of 1,067 papers on FI are obtained, only five of which focus on AEE. Moreover, papers related to AEE for FI are few. The study presents the research gaps, challenges, and potential factors for further research in this context. We conclude that FI for AEE in PHEI can be a game-changer for future sustainability. Moreover, we believe that the outcome of this review warrants further research.

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2022): JOURNAL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATIONS

“…• collaborating with businesses and industries through joint research projects and research related assistance to small business owners (Siegel, Waldman, Atwater, & Link, 2004); • engaging in knowledge transfer activities as joint partners with universities and industry, privately; • establishing a joint venture(s) through industry collaboration • facilitating the formation of spin-off companies; • contributing to the establishment of university incubators and/or science parks; • contributing to the establishment of university centres dedicated to commercialisation and the formation of their own businesses (Clarysse, Wright, Lockett, de Velde, & Vohora, 2005;Di Gregorio & Shane, 2003); • engaging in contract research, and research output patenting (Mirani & Yusof, 2016;Ojo, Dorasamy, Migin, Jayabalan, Rajeswari, & Tung, 2022).…”