Nurturing Entrepreneurial Culture and Attitudes in Universities: Experiences at the University of Palermo

The aim of this paper is to contribute in the debate about academic entrepreneurship and the role of universities focusing on the analysis of the long term process of establishing and running an university incubator, and on the relationship between perseverance and results in promoting the exploitation of academic research and contributing to cultural change in an area where entrepreneurial spirit is not part of tradition. The paper focuses on analysing the experience gained at the University of Palermo in promoting and supporting, for the last ten years, the creation of innovative business initiatives and academic start-ups through the incubator run by the Consorzio ARCA. The paper presents the “operational model” and the mix of activities built in ARCA to promote entrepreneurial culture among the students and academics of the university, support the creation of innovative startup companies based on academic research promoted by academics and students, build an “entrepreneurial community” where startuppers exchange ideas, share solutions, have access to a wide and growing international and qualified network, receive advice and facilitations for accessing the financial market, information about administrative issues and bureocracy, and more.