ABSTRACT
Our research design combines theoretical reasoning with explorative case studies of four knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship firms within biotechnology, which match the four theoretically derived quadrants identified above. The case methodology partly draws upon a grounded theory approach but it has more elements of explorative and theoretically relevant cases (Eisenhardt 1989; Yin 1989). More specifically, our case studies are used to strengthen and explain theoretically derived propositions, rather than derive and create new theory directly from empirical work or to illustrate theory. The combination of the theoretical review as well as the empirical cases should thus help us to develop and generate a more coherent and detailed set of hypotheses, as a result of the analysis.
