Entrepreneurial Professors and Secrecy in Science: Variations and Impact Karen Seashore Louis

University of Minnesota

Eric G CampbellHarvard University

Faculty Entrepreneurs and Secrecy: What are the Issues? Entrepreneurship is common practice in

academic life sciences Bayh-Dole encourages commercial application State legislatures want universities to play a key role in

economic development Many public universities see technology transfer as a

potential source of funds to offset declining state contributions

Faculty see commercial activities as a mechanism to offset the wage differential between academia and industry

What are the issues? Secrecy is related to entrepreneurship

Blumenthal et al research has shown commercial activities are associated with: Trade secrecy Denials of requests for information, data and materials related

to published research Negative effects on graduate education

Universities are concerned about conflict of commitment Increased reporting requirements oversight in some institutions on both time and money

What are the ethical issues?

Why is secrecy a problem for science policy and practice? Reduces ability to replicate published research Reduces ability to extend published research Negative effect on graduate training Reduces shared sense of purpose Likely results in inefficiencies in the research

system.

Research Questions

1) What are there different types of entrepreneurship among life scientists?

2) What is the relationship between entrepreneurial behavior and experiences with secrecy within the scientific community?

3) What individual and career factors, including secrecy, predict entrepreneurship?

Methods

NIH funded study of Secrecy in Science (Blumenthal, Campbell, et al, 2006; Vogeli, et al, 2006; Louis, et al, 2002)

Sample of 2893 life scientists (faculty) at the 100 most research-intensive U.S. universities

1849 responded (64%)

Question #1: Are There Entrepreneurial Types? 16 Items indicating entrepreneurial behavior (last 3 years):

1. Company Founder2. Officer/Exec. Board Member Of A Company3. Scientific Advisory Bd Member4. Consultant For Pay5. Research Led To Patent Application6. Research Led To Patent Issued7. Research Led To Patent Licensed8. Research Led To Trade Secrets9. Research Led To Product Under Review10. Research Led To Product On Market11. Research Led To Start-up12. Getting Royalties13. Getting Equity14. Getting Industry $ For Students15. Getting Gifts For Research16. Getting Grants/Contracts

Question #1: Factor Analysis

Four distinct factors emerged: Research Entrepreneurs: High loadings on items

involving research funding from industry Innovation Entrepreneurs: High loadings on items

involving patenting and early-stage commercialization Commercializing Entrepreneurs: Having products in the

market and receiving royalties. Leadership Entrepreneurs: High loadings on items

involving founding or directing companies The four factors account for 53% of the variance in

the 16 items. FACTOR ANALYSIS.entrepreneur.doc

Q2: The Relationship between Entrepreneurship and Secrecy Two variables:

Don’t Ask – a single question: How often have you refrained from asked other scientists for

information because you think that you will be denied? A four point scale, with 1=often and 4= never. Mean/SD=

3.02/.93. Deny – the individual’s response to requests for seven

types of information (lab techniques, findings, phenotype information, genetic

sequences, biomaterials, research tools or other). A four point scale for each was recoded into a yes/no Items were added to obtain a total “denying” score; 14% of the

respondents reported having denied or significantly delayed a request.

Q3: Entrepreneurship and Secrecy

CORRELATIONS.SECRECY&ENTREP.DOC Innovative and Commercializing Entrepreneurs –

those who are patenting or bringing their own research to market – are more likely to deny other’s requests.

Research Entrepreneurs are not hesitant to ask others for information, but Innovative, Leadership, and Commercializing Entrepreneurs are significantly more likely to say that they don’t ask.

Q 3: What Predicts Research Entrepreneurship? RESEARCH ENTREP REGRESSION.DOC In sum, the research entrepreneur is a scientist

whose research involves human subjects, is male, a typical “highly productive” in traditional faculty roles, while also engaging in innovative entrepreneurial activities.

Research Entrepreneurs are much less likely than others to indicate that they don’t ask for information from other scientists.

Q2: What Predicts Innovative Entrepreneurs?

INNOV ENTRE REGRESSION.doc In sum, the Innovative Entrepreneur is likely

to be male, highly published, and unlikely to be involved in any other form of entrepreneurship.

Innovative Entrepreneurs are much more likely to indicate that they have denied or delayed requests for materials and information.

Q2: What Predicts Commercializing Entrepreneurs? COMMERC ENTREP REGRESSION.rtf

In sum, commercializing faculty conduct research using human subjects, are highly productive in traditional faculty roles (publishing, supporting students), and work in collaborative groups. They are also less likely to be research and innovation entrepreneurs.

Commecializing entrepreneurs are not more llikely to deny materials to others, nor to ask for other’s materials and data/information.

Q2: What Predicts Leadership Entrepreneurs?

LEADERSHIP ENTREP REGRESSION.rtf In sum, the model does not predict leadership

entrepreneurial activity well. Becoming involved in founding or running companies is, apparently, rather idiosyncratic.

Leadership entrepreneurs are much more likely indicate that they don’t ask other scientists for information and materials.

Summary

1) The four forms of entrepreneurship are distinct, and do not represent a developmental path for individuals

2) Research entrepreneurs are best viewed as outstanding bench scholars in a traditional mode.

3) Innovation and Commercializing entrepreneurs probably represent different disciplines (those using human subjects and those who do not)

4) Leadership entrepreneurs cannot be predicted; becoming a leadership entrepreneur is not explained by the factors in our model.

Implication....

Confirms previous research: some kinds of entrepreneurship are associated with secrecy. Commercializers and innovators are “selling

things” and are more likely to be secretive.. Secrecy is a fundamental component of the

marketing of research

Implication....

Openness is a scientific value; applying science is a social and economic value If we limit or reduce secrecy will we depress

innovating and commercializing entrepreneurial activities, which are socially valued?

Increasing translational research activities in universities may, inevitably, increase secrecy

Policy Issues for Oversight...

Do we need more information about how entrepreneurial activities are affecting science... Delays? Patenting and material transfers? Costs to research programs in high social priority

areas (genetics as a prime example) Should federal policy mandate openness -- require

deposit of all biomaterials prior to publication? How effective are current educational programs in

dealing with entrepreneurialism and secrecy? How do current university conflict of interest and

oversight policies distinguish different types of entrepreneurship?