This project aims at analysing the interactions between public research institutions and academic spin-offs focusing on the impact of entrepreneurial activities on the academic research system. Based upon approaches in science policy studies and science studies and analysing the gains and losses of spin-off activities for public research institutions, PROKNOW examines the relevance of public and private forms of knowledge in innovative processes of knowledge production. Academic spin-offs often epitomize innovative forms of knowledge production and are thus an exemplary topic to study innovation processes in the interaction of science, industry and society.

PROKNOW proposes a European-wide comparison of research institutions in seven countries, including the three biggest research systems, Germany, France and the UK, the highly innovative systems of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland, and the associated candidate country Bulgaria. Institutionally PROKNOW compares different forms of public sector research institutions, for example university and extra-university institutions. In terms of economic sectors, the project focuses on life sciences, information sciences and nanotechnology. Thus, PROKNOW allows for analysing the institutional and organisational conditions for a profitable interaction between public research institutions and academic spin-offs.