Role of Chinese National Science Park in supporting returnee entrepreneurs’ resource acquisition

Xia, Senmao (2016) Role of Chinese National Science Park in supporting returnee entrepreneurs’ resource acquisition. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Resource acquisition is a significant activity for new ventures but, inevitably, brings significant costs. These costs are particularly large for returnee entrepreneurs (REs) as they lack local social networks. Although Chinese National Science Parks (NSPs) offer various services for REs to reduce those costs, they struggle to find the right mix of services for this specific client group.
The objective of this study is to empirically explore the approaches through which Chinese NSPs help REs to reduce the costs of their resource acquisition from resource holders (RHs). This study uses a multiple case study method and takes a transaction costs
perspective (TCP). Data was collected from six NSPs in China,including 49 semi-structured interviews with REs and NSP staff members. The results reveal that four types of NSP services (mentoring & training, social events, promotion of REs, and accreditation of RHs),
can reduce REs’ resource acquisition costs. These services have both individual and joint effects on reducing REs’ costs. Specifically, the ‘accreditation of RHs’ service directly helps REs reduce search costs. The combination of ‘accreditation of RHs’, ‘promotion of REs’ and ‘social event’ services enables REs and RHs to establish guanxi. Further, guanxi, working along with the ‘mentoring & training’ service, facilitates REs to reduce contracting costs. Finally, the combination of the above four services indirectly helps REs reduce monitoring and enforcement costs through supporting the establishment of guanxi and
legal contracts between REs and RHs.
This study makes significant academic contributions to the literature on RE, TCP and science park. Also, the findings are useful for governments and NSPs to develop the right mix of tailored services for REs. REs can refer to this study when they need to evaluate which NSP is more suitable to create their new ventures.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
Depositing User:	Zoe White
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2025 14:07
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2025 14:07
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99757
DOI:

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