Demystifying the Entrepreneurial Role of Universities: Insights from Bricolage, Effectuation, and Causation logics in Open Innovation projects during the COVID-19 Crisis

Abstract

We examine the entrepreneurial behaviour of universities in France and Brazil, focusing on the strategic logics of bricolage, effectuation and causation in university-industry collaborations. Amidst the uncertainties and challenges of the pandemic, these institutions' adaptive strategies provide a crucial understanding of how entrepreneurial universities respond to crises. We address the gap in understanding micro-level entrepreneurial orientation within UICs, particularly under crisis conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The research employs a qualitative comparative analysis focusing on 30 OI projects. It shows that no single strategic logic is sufficient in isolation. A combination of bricolage and effectuation is optimal for projects without research collaboration, highlighting the need for flexibility and resourcefulness. In contrast, causation becomes essential in research collaborations, requiring a mix with effectuation in Brazil and bricolage in France. This demonstrates the importance of contextual adaptability in the application of strategic logic, influenced by each country's institutional and political environment. It emphasises the synergy of multiple logics, highlights the importance of contextual variability, and bridges theoretical concepts with practical scenarios in open innovation.