Digital academic entrepreneurship in action: a comparative case study in two Italian universities

This research examines the impact of digital technologies on academic entrepreneurship, offering an updated view of digital academic entrepreneurship (DAE). DAE represents a novel conceptualisation of academic entrepreneurship by exploring adaptive strategies for market needs through digital tools. The study investigates the utilisation of digital technologies within academic entrepreneurship (what), examining the opportunities and challenges they present, the key stakeholders involved in their adoption within academic entrepreneurship processes (who), the ways in which digital technologies are employed and the corresponding challenges addressed (how), the underlying rationale for their adoption in the context of academic entrepreneurship (why), and the locations where opportunities emerge. Using a comparative case study of two Italian universities—University of Naples Federico II and LUM University Bari—the research highlights digital technologies’ transformative role in shifting academic entrepreneurship beyond economic goals to broader social and democratic values. Addressing a research gap, it provides insights for scholars, practitioners, and universities on effectively leveraging digital technologies to foster a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem.