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As organizations based on science, dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) establish very narrow links with universities and public research institutions in developing their technologies. This chapter examines the influence of DBF relationships with star bioscientists on their venture-capital funding. It proposes a new definition of bioscientists anchored in today's technological practices. It also classifies Canadian bioscientists into four categories to give a national overview of their involvement with DBFs. The cross-analysis of 150 Canadian DBFs active in human-health applications and 431 bioscientists confirms the positive impact of these relationships on obtaining venture capital when a star is involved because of the credibility it brings to the firm. Moreover, results show that bioscientists most often chose to establish contractual agreements with existing firms or start their own. Future research directions and implications for policy makers are discussed.

Given the ever-changing landscape of R&D and the boundaries of science and technology, innovation through partnerships has become unavoidable at both the national and international levels. As a result, the time has come to explore various avenues that foster the growth and success of university-industry collaboration (U-I collaboration). The development of such collaboration is seen as a key issue in a competitive knowledge-based economy (OECD, 2002). This qualitative study contributes to the literature on U-I collaboration management. The results reveal the need to review current collaboration methods and procedures and to consider stakeholder motivations in order to achieve a greater consensus with regard to the sharing and fulfilment of their interests. Furthermore, instilling a stronger climate of trust within U-I collaboration projects will help projects materialize and further the development of innovation ecosystems, the economy and society in general.

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In this chapter, the authors seek to estimate the importance of the clustering phenomenon in link with the biotechnological system as external factors that influence the growth of SBEs (specialised biotechnology enterprises). This is a first step in determining the geographical proximity of SBEs and researchers, and secondly, to identify the players involved in biotechnological systems of different clusters of agglomeration. Thus, the authors specify the number of SBEs by region, the number of researchers, and their links with industry. Therefore, in terms of biotechnological systems in place, the identification of the different stakeholders allow for revealing strengths and weaknesses of those regions for the sustaining of innovation in Canadian SBEs.