To entrepreneur or not to entrepreneur? How identity discrepancies influence enthusiasm for academic entrepreneurship

Abstract Recognizing the commercial potential of university-based inventions and discoveries, legislators administrators have called upon academic scientists to become entrepreneurs. Yet, few appear enthusiastic about taking on entrepreneurial activities. The intrinsic reasons underlying lack enthusiasm are poorly understood. We extend research by applying self-discrepancy theory explore role future-oriented self other guides for entrepreneurship. Integrating with social identity theory, we also examine moderating effects scientist identification entrepreneur identification. test our model a sample National Science Foundation (NSF) funded who participated in Innovation Corps (I-Corps) entrepreneurship training program. find scientists’ self-guides influence their entrepreneurship, while interestingly, other-guides do not. Additionally, that higher enhances positive effect self-guide an attenuates effect. Our paper contributes literature developing testing framework integrates nuanced understanding thought processes regarding engagement study has implications policy suggesting way universities can identify candidates