Discussion on the entrepreneurial university in Spain: The case of the Madrid Region.

This article examines whether the dependence of Spanish public universities on the State acts as an inhibitor to their transformation into entrepreneurial universities, focusing on six universities in the Madrid region. Contrary to some literature suggesting that high State dependence and overregulation hinder entrepreneurial transformation, the study finds that State policies and funding—such as the establishment of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), the "Sexenio of Technology Transfer" incentive, and regional innovation programs like RIS3—actively promote this change. However, universities differ in their internal commitment and capacity to implement entrepreneurial strategies, with resource availability and institutional support influencing progress. The research highlights that while external support is crucial, factors such as entrepreneurial culture, reward systems, and commercialization support remain underdeveloped in some institutions, affecting their overall entrepreneurial development.