REAL TRANSFER FROM UNIVERSITIES IN THE GALICIA-NORTH PORTUGAL EUROREGION: ANALYSIS OF USOS GROWTH

Purpose: The aim of this work is to analyse the business growth of university spin-offs (USOs) as a "living firm" sign that reflects the real and competitive transfer of research results from the University to the productive sector. Methodology: The sample was made up of 214 USOs, 49 Galician and 165 from Northern Portugal. In order to have standardized information of the USOs, the SABI (Iberian Balance Analysis System) database was used to collect sales data over the period 2000-2017. Based on those data, a descriptive analysis of the USOs sales and growth was performed. Finally, the growth averages are compared between the USOs of Galicia and those of the North of Portugal by a t-test with the intention of identifying differences between the two territories. Originality: To the best of our knowledge, no study on USOs growth has been conducted in the Galicia - North Portugal Euroregion. Findings: The results of descriptive analyse seem to indicate that there is a real transfer of the universities of the Euroregion through the creation of USOs since these firms have positive sales growth data and therefore would not be "living dead" that survive without growing thanks to the support institutional. Additionally, the t-test found no significant differences in terms of sales growth but there is a difference in total sales. Practical implications: USOs must be supported as they contribute to the research results real transfer. Research limitations: It is impossible to know if all the products sold are derived from the technology transferred from the universities.