Symposium explores new research in technology entrepreneurship

Now in its seventh year, the West Coast Research Symposium and Doctoral Consortium in Technology Entrepreneurship draws faculty and doctoral students from around the globe to present their early-stage research to an audience of their peers. This year’s event, held September 10-12 at the University of Washington, saw a record 91 applications from doctoral students applying for 24 workshop spots. The 67 faculty and student attendees came from the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The first day of the conference is devoted to a workshop for doctoral students on developing a research agenda in technology entrepreneurship and completing and publishing a top-notch dissertation. The faculty are onstage during the next two days, presenting 23 papers. This year presentations were divided into seven sessions: knowledge creation and transfer; corporate venturing and innovation; optimism, risk, and intellectual property, selecting venturing partners; social ties and dynamic capabilities, technology—geography, topography, and legacy; and industry creation.

“The West Coast Research Symposium is an excellent conference for PhD students for so many reasons,” said David Gomulya, a fourth-year doctoral student from the UW. “The opportunity to meet leading scholars and fellow students in an intimate setting is second to none. Most importantly, the relaxed and collegial atmosphere of the conference is what makes it truly a conference to go to. As a student, you’re not afraid to ask questions, and you’ll get excellent and specific feedback.”

UW Professor Suresh Kotha, one of the co-founders of the conference, seconded that sentiment. “Feedback from your peers helps crystallize the research question you’re asking,” he said. “And the questions from the audience are insightful and constructive. Generally about a third of papers presented at this conference will be published in top-tier journals.”

The Conference partners include the center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (University of Washington), the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (USC), the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (Stanford), the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship (University of Oregon), and the Don Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UC Irvine). The Kauffman Foundation provides additional financial support.

The Call for Papers for the 2010 WCRS will be in February 2010.