A relational view of start-up firms inside an incubator: the case of the ARCA consortium

Abstract

Purpose Analyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the ARCA consortium, the purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among the start-up firms inside an incubator. Design/methodology/approach Thanks to the adoption of the relationships concentric model and the density concentric model, the paper highlights the role of relational conditions for innovative projects in partnership among the incubated firms. Reflections herein are tested via a qualitative research approach based on a single case study: the ARCA consortium. Findings This research found that about 32 percent of relationships inside the incubator support the emergence of short-term relationships among the incubated firms. Furthermore, about 18 percent of the relationships support the emergence of strong collaborative strategies for the implementation of long-term relationships resulting in innovative pathways: innovative projects in partnership. Originality/value The most interconnected firms inside the incubator are those that play a central role also in the innovation pathway developing the higher number of innovative project in partnership. This finding emphasizes a correlation between collaborative relationships and innovation inside an incubator ecosystem.

Internal and external networks, and incubatees’ performance in dynamic environments: entrepreneurial learning’s mediating effect

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Effectiveness of entrepreneurial universities: experiences and challenges in digital era (a systemic approach)

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Factores determinantes en la creación de Spin-off Universitarias.

“…-Incubadoras de empresas: son un ejemplo de ecosistema capaz de apoyar la innovación empresarial a través de relaciones de colaboración, mejorando el intercambio de nuevas ideas, recursos y conocimiento dentro del ecosistema y, de esta manera, apoyar el surgimiento de las condiciones requeridas para construir estrategias innovadoras [72]. Por tanto, las spin-off tienen más probabilidades de tener éxito si se aloja dentro de una incubadora [53], puesto que reciben beneficios como el acceso a servicios e instalaciones que pueden ser de mayor ayuda para sobrevivir en la etapa crítica de puesta en marcha, facilitar el paso a la fase de desarrollo e incrementar su credibilidad en el mercado [15].…”