Scaling Innovation Hubs: Impact on Knowledge, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Tanzania

Abstract

This study has explored the impact of innovation hubs on knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. To gain deeper insights, the study adopted an exploratory case study design along a qualitative approach to conduct an empirical investigation. The study reveals a noticeable contribution of the X-Innovation Hub in empowering youths in aspects of knowledge co-creation and transfer, and promotion of diverse innovations. The findings of the study also disclose that the contribution of the innovation hub in transforming innovations into entrepreneurial opportunities is still unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the findings suggest that not all start-ups emanating from the hub are taking off. This is due to various undermining factors such as financial constraints and unfriendly legal frameworks. For X-Innovation Hub to satisfactorily and sustainably contribute to national innovation systems, deliberate efforts must be made, and strategies put in place by different stakeholders such as the government. Particularly, diversification of funding sources to minimise dependence on international development funding agencies and organisations is important.

Digital Entrepreneurship Services Evolution: Analysis of Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Innovation Models for Open Data Ecosystems

“…Public sector organizations and businesses publish data to nascent entrepreneurs to create platforms and develop digital services to enhance the quality of citizens' lives. Regarding the social motivation, the government publishes data to decrease bureaucracy and increase accountability, transparency, and participation in government [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Furthermore, [16] highlighted some advantages for citizens.…”

Understanding Entrepreneurship Training in Incubation Hubs

“…At first, incubators concentrated on providing start-ups with shared office space and other physical resources, such as conference rooms but have now shifted to offering professional consulting services, as well as mentoring and coaching to help entrepreneurs gain needed business expertise. According to Mwantimwa et al (2021), partnerships, networking, information co-creation, and invention are all essential features of innovation hubs. Hubs provide an ideal platform for networking and instill a level of professionalism among incubatees.…”

“…The Innovation Manager at the hub was dedicated to us as start-ups and helped me to develop my ideas with the possibility of being given additional resources to take my concepts to the market. Mwantimwa et al (2021) found that innovation hubs promote intellectual creation and interactive learning, and information transfer via collaborative networks. The hubs improve the dynamics of developing the skills and through differentiated instruction, promote participatory tacit knowledge creation, transformation, and dissemination among a variety of actors from information, formal businesses, and support organizations.…”

“…The hubs improve the dynamics of developing the skills and through differentiated instruction, promote participatory tacit knowledge creation, transformation, and dissemination among a variety of actors from information, formal businesses, and support organizations. Furthermore, Mwantimwa et al (2021) noted that the creation and dissemination of knowledge through face-to-face contact between specialists within and outside hubs and incubators were crucial in knowledge transfer. Knowledge hubs perform three primary functions: producing information, moving it to places where it may be utilized, and conveying knowledge to others through education and training.…”

Transferring knowledge and innovations through village knowledge center in Tanzania: approaches, impact and impediments

“…Literature review 2.1 Knowledge co-creation and transfer approaches Knowledge co-creation and transfer are important aspects of knowledge acquisition, exchange and use. To implement knowledge co-creation and transfer approaches, training, awareness programs, noticeboards, internet services, distribution of pamphlets and newspapers, meetings, networking, training and seminars are important (Mwantimwa, 2020;Lwoga and Chigona, 2019;Mwantimwa et al, 2021;Ndimbwa et al, 2019Ndimbwa et al, , 2020Kaegi, 2015;Subramanian and Arivanandan, 2009;Kumaran, 2008;Hegde et al, 2007). In their attempt to understand how an MSSRF-ISRO VKC disseminates knowledge in Nagapattinam district in India, Kumaran (2008) noted that the center was networked with different partners and stakeholders to enhance knowledge and information transferring.…”