From Academic Research to Startup Creation: Structural Challenges, Policy Mechanisms, and Strategic Prospects of Algeria’s Entrepreneurial University Transition under Ministerial Decree 1275

Abstract

This comprehensive study investigates the structural transformation of Algerian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) toward the 'Entrepreneurial University' paradigm, catalyzed by the legislative enactment and national deployment of Ministerial Decree No. 1275 ("A Graduation Diploma / A Startup"). Grounded in Institutional Theory and the Triple Helix Model of innovation, this paper evaluates the operational mechanics, organizational adaptations, and policy mechanisms of campus-based University Business Incubators (UBIs) and Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs). Employing an embedded, multi-site qualitative case study methodology across representative Algerian universities (including the University of Bejaia and the University of M'sila), the research identifies critical systemic bottlenecks: pervasive bureaucratic rigidities, severe shortages of early-stage seed capital and venture funding, and structural misalignments within academic career advancement criteria. The study provides an actionable strategic roadmap designed to bridge the "Valley of Death" for academic ventures, aligning university-driven innovation with national economic diversification imperatives in oil-dependent transitioning economies.