Exploring technology business incubators and their business incubation models: case studies from China

Tang, Mingfeng; Walsh, Grace; Li, Cuiwen; Baskaran, Angathevar

doi:10.1007/s10961-019-09759-4

Cited by 32 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Due to the critical function of business incubators in nurturing and promoting new firms in their early stage, many studies have been conducted to determine the models of business incubation process (Hackett and Dilts, 2004; Hausberg and Korrek, 2020; Tang et al , 2019), the impact of business incubators on economic development (Peters et al , 2004; Bergek and Norrman, 2008; Haugh, 2020), the effectiveness of assessment of business incubation success (Dee et al , 2011; Kiran and Bose, 2020) and the key position of incubator manager in the incubation process (Hackett and Dilts, 2004; Kakabadse et al , 2020). Since incubatees are in the early stage of development, their knowledge, skills and experience are limited; therefore, it is worthwhile to systematically explore varying learning practices to identify how to facilitate the incubatees' sustainable growth (Wu et al , 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning huddles: absorptive capacity and sustainable growth of Chinese incubatees

Kennett

Maritz

et al. 2020

JIUC

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PurposeThis study explores the different learning practices of Chinese incubators in Chongqing and Chengdu and delves into how these “learning huddles” influence incubatees' absorptive capacity (the ability to apply knowledge) to improve their chance of success (sustainable growth).Design/methodology/approachThis explorative study uses a qualitative case study approach by means of semi-structured interviews with business incubation managers and incubatees across three business incubators in Chengdu and Chongqing. The data are transcribed, coded and analyzed using an analytic map for the explanation of building and reflecting on the theoretical propositions, leading to a further understanding of the “learning huddle” mechanism.FindingsThe study finds that incubatees perceive that their absorptive capacity is increased through vicarious informal learning practices that promote access to networks and thereby builds social capital to improve their likelihood of success.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has limitations in sample size and design. The explorative case study approach uses a nonrandom case selection of three incubators in Chongqing and Chengdu and has a limited number of interviewees, which may lack representation of the general Chinese business incubation population and may not sufficiently be generalized beyond the sample itself.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications for business incubation programs. Business incubators that build learning huddles (networks) create a nurturing shared learning environment, which is suitable for incubatees to collectively absorb knowledge at the early stage of their life cycle and improve their likelihood of sustainable growth.Social implicationsSince this study is limited to a Chinese context, it is also hoped that future researchers use the typology of business incubator learning practices to explore cross-culture variables, as these may influence the business incubation operations and performance.Originality/valueThis study adds to the discussion on how collective learning practices facilitate absorptive capacity and build social capital, which in turn improves incubatees' chance of sustainable growth and as such the authors hope that the learning practice's typology and how incubatees determine their success stimulates further research for measuring the likelihood of incubatees sustainable growth.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning huddles: absorptive capacity and sustainable growth of Chinese incubatees

Kennett

Maritz

et al. 2020

JIUC

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“…Traditional technology business incubators provide incubators with the resources and services necessary for business operations (infrastructure management services and technical know-how, etc.). At the same time, it helps incubators achieve resource integration and supports incubators to survive and grow in the fierce market competition (Tang et al, 2021). The upgrade and restructuring of technology business incubators through service innovation is the best way and most feasible path for incubators to gain heterogeneity, differentiation, and sustainable competitiveness, which is expected to break through the traditional "nanny" service model, achieve leapfrog development, enhance the service capacity of the incubator and accelerate the growth of incubators (Yuan et al, 2022).…”

Section: Open Access Edited Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on network capacity, absorptive capacity and service innovation performance of technology business incubators—based on PLS-SEM and fsQCA methods

Dong

Murong²,

2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Introduction: In the new economic normal, technology incubators are an important support to achieve the growth of strategic emerging enterprises. On the basis of resource based theory, organizational learning theory, inter-organizational relationship theory, and network capability theory, this study constructs a theoretical framework and hypotheses of the impact of network capability within the “resource-capability-relationship” perspective, absorptive capacity on service innovation performance of technology business incubators.Methods: This study uses 234 Chinese incubators in the incubator network as samples and applies partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore the questions mentioned above.Results: The results verify the relationship between network capacity, absorptive capacity, and service innovation performance. Furthermore, the results yield four paths that lead to high service innovation performance, such as “network capability orientation” and “high absorption orientation”, which are different combinations of network capacity and absorptive capacity.Discussion: The research results are important for improving the innovation performance of technology incubator services and ensuring the stable and effective operation of incubated enterprises.

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“…Gerdsri et al (2021) believe that business incubators can provide a supportive, facilitating and nurturing environment for start-ups (Amelia et al , 2021). In an open innovation environment, the services provided by incubators are a dynamic process (Fernández et al , 2015; Öberg et al , 2020) and different incubators develop different strategies (Tang et al , 2021; Qi and Taoyong, 2022). In addition, Nicholls-Nixon and Valliere (2021) explain how the entrepreneurial logic used by incubators affects the incubation process and performance.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promotion or inhibition of different incubation services? Evidence from government funding of China

Zhong²

2023

APJIE

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the characteristics of the incubation industry, government funding, and the intensity of funding for different services. Because the incubation industry has particular characteristics, government funding varies for different services, and its intensity varies with service. Design/methodology/approach Government funding is classified as incubation subsidy and incubation incentive. Besides, incubation services include property management, business mentoring as well as investment and financing. Based on this, this study examines the influence mechanism of different subsidy and incentive on incubation services by using the generalized propensity score matching method. Findings The empirical results show that subsidy and incentive have an inverse-U shape effect on property management service, but a linear effect on business guidance service. Furthermore, subsidy does not affect investment and financing service, but incentive that can have a significant impact. Originality/value The theme of government funding and incubator services plays an important role in helping entrepreneurs expand their businesses. Incubation subsidy and incentive can provide important support to help enterprises obtain more preferential loans, technical services and technical support in the incubator. Applying it to incubator services can provide better technology and entrepreneurship guidance. These services can help new entrepreneurs understand products and markets, and how to develop more successfully in the early stage. In short, incubators supported by government funds can provide important support to entrepreneurs to help them successfully realize their business plans.

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Exploring technology business incubators and their business incubation models: case studies from China

Cited by 32 publications

References 59 publications

Learning huddles: absorptive capacity and sustainable growth of Chinese incubatees

Learning huddles: absorptive capacity and sustainable growth of Chinese incubatees

Research on network capacity, absorptive capacity and service innovation performance of technology business incubators—based on PLS-SEM and fsQCA methods

Promotion or inhibition of different incubation services? Evidence from government funding of China

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