Modalità di nascita e di evoluzione delle imprese di biotecnologia in Italia

The recent deep and widespread interest in biotechnological activity stems mainly from the considerable interest of the market in the research results and innovation emerging from this activity in industrialised countries. An efficient scientific-technological system and an efficient industrial and financial system is necessary for the development of new biotechnological businesses. The former supplies knowledge and professional skills, and the latter creates demand and supplies financial and economic resources to the new firms in the sector. The link between these systems may be seen in the relationships between university scientists and biotech companies. The characteristics of this link greatly affect the birth and growth of new biotech firms, and the evolution of the biotech industry in general. The development of the biotech industry in Italy is not interesting from a quantitative point of view since there are few biotech firms. What is interesting, however, is that these firms are in an early stage of development which renders them susceptible to changes capable of improving their productivity. Given the dependence of small biotech firms on firm and country specific factors, it is important to analyse the specific factors involved in the birth of small Italian biotech firms in order to guarantee the future development of this strategic emerging sector. The birth modes of fifteen Italian biotech firms were investigated using case studies and are discussed in relation with their specific evolutionary problems.

Renato Passaro, Patrizia Vittoria, Modalità di nascita e di evoluzione delle imprese di biotecnologia in Italia in "ECONOMIA E POLITICA INDUSTRIALE " 108/2000, pp , DOI: