Financing Life Science Innovation Venture Capital, Corporate Governance and Commercialization

The life sciences are widely treated as a field and an industry with high-growth potential, and while neoclassical economic theory prescribes that capital are invested in emerging industries, there is a perceived shortage of venture capital among life science entrepreneurs. Financing Life Science Innovation reviews the literature on venture capital, corporate governance, and life science venturing and presents a study of the Swedish life science industry and the venture capital investors being active in financially and managerially supporting life science start-up firms. The study reveals that venture capital investors, life science entrepreneurs, and innovation system actors today face the challenge of supplying adequate amounts of capital to an industry that may produce tomorrow's health care innovations. Changes in scientific research practices, the structure of the international finance market, and industry policy are all contributing to what is frequently treated as a shortage of venture capital in the life sciences.

Alexander Styhre is Professor and Chair of Organization Theory and Management, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. Alexander's research interest include knowledge-intensive organizations and innovation work. He is author, co-author, and co-editor more than 20 books.

Introduction: Competitive Capitalism and the Role of Capital Investment
PART I: ELEMENTS OF LIFE SCIENCE INNOVATION
1. The Financialization of the Economy
2. Corporate Governance and the Supply of Commercial Human Capital
3. The Methodology of the Study
PART II: EMPIRICAL STUDIES
4. Valuing Life Science Ventures
5. The Corporate Governance of Life Science Companies
6. Promoting Life Science Venturing and Innovations: Developing National Innovation Systems
PART III: ANALYSIS AND CONTRIBUTION
7. Managing Life Science Innovation