심리적 임파워먼트가 이공계 대학 연구원의 창업의지에 미치는 영향: 사회적 네트워크의 매개효과

In today’s uncertain economic and market environment, fostering innovation through high-value technology startups at universities has become increasingly important. Science and engineering researchers, in particular, are seen as a group with significant potential to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. This study aims to analyze the impact of psychological empowerment on entrepreneurial intention among science and engineering university researchers, with the mediation of social networks. The research utilized data from the "Survey on Science and Technology Talent Development Activities" conducted by the KIRD(Korea Institute of Human Resources Development in Science and Technology) over the years 2022-2023. The findings reveal that while all sub-dimensions of psychological empowerment positively influenced internal cohesion and external bridging within social networks, only self-determination and impact positively affected entrepreneurial intention. Interestingly, meaningfulness negatively impacted entrepreneurial intention, suggesting that individuals with high meaningfulness are more likely to be immersed in their current roles and seek stability, which may lower their intention to pursue entrepreneurship. In terms of mediation effects, external bridging partially mediated the relationship between psychological empowerment and entrepreneurial intention, whereas internal cohesion did not show any mediating effect in this relationship. The results of this study provide valuable insights for developing strategies to promote technological entrepreneurship within universities, particularly highlighting the importance of strengthening connections with external networks to enhance researchers' entrepreneurial intentions.