Cooperation between Technology Start-ups and Large Companies in Austria

The study presents results from a survey on strategic alliances between young technology start-ups and large companies carried out among young technology ventures in Austria. The results show that 38 percent of the surveyed companies are active in strategic alliances with larger enterprises whereas 43.3 percent that are not part of such an alliance seek to form one soon. The main motive to become active in a strategic alliance is for exploitative reasons, i.e., to gain access to a market. Main hurdles to set up a strategic partnership are the lack of knowledge about adequate contact persons in the larger enterprise, divergent views between the potential partners on the value of the technology or service the small enterprise offers, as well as concerns about intellectual property right protection.