Location choice and development of high-tech start-ups: The case of biotechnologies applied to human health in France.

Summary The emergence of biotechnologies as a founding paradigm for future research in the pharmaceutical industry raises questions regarding the valorization and industrialization of knowledge resulting from public research. Biotechnology start-ups applied to human health are considered today as an excellent means of technology transfer and valorization. The purpose of this thesis is to study the impact of location and proximity relationships in the development of biotechnology start-ups applied to human health in France. The first part of this thesis is devoted to the study of the difficulties of industrialization of academic knowledge and the importance of proximity relationships in the process of technology transfer through a review of the literature on localized systems of innovation (technopoles, technology parks...). The second part is devoted to the identification of key success factors to ensure the development of BASH start-ups. The last part illustrates our reflection through the study of the impact of the choice of location on the development of these start-ups.