The Role of Research Organizations in Shaping Research-Based Spin-Offs (RBS) in Romania. Regional Patterns under EU Funds

This research investigates the role of research organizations (universities, research institutes, and centers) in creating research-based spin-offs in Romania. The paper presents a realistic portrayal of how research-based spin-offs operate across Romania’s eight development regions, using data from two European Union-funded programs: the Sectoral Operational Program for Increasing Economic Competitiveness (POSCCE 2007–2013) and the Competitiveness Operational Program (POC 2014–2020). The research tries to answer the question: Does regional research infrastructure (universities, research institutes, and centers) influence the generation of RBS? A comparative review of the literature on the relationship between the new venture and the parent organization is conducted. The findings reveal an intense concentration of spin-offs in the capital county, whereas other regions have limited outcomes despite having significant numbers of universities and research institutes. The statistical regression in Eviews indicates that the number of research institutes and universities is a statistically significant predictor of spin-off creation. An increase in one research institute will lead to an increase of 0.6 research-based spin-offs. Meanwhile, increasing the number of universities by one unit will generate 0.9 spin-offs. The research centers do not have a statistically significant effect on RBS creation. The analysis shows a strong concentration of spin-off activity in Bucharest-Ilfov, which accounts for more than half of all spin-offs. These results underscore the importance of developing tailored policies to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and establish clear frameworks for equitable participation, thereby supporting the sustainable development of spin-offs.