The role of social capital in the growth of young innovative firms: Incubated versus non-incubated[El papel del capital social en el crecimiento de las jóvenes empresas innovadoras: diferencias entre las usuarias y no usuarias de viveros]

The concept of social capital is increasingly used in entrepreneurship studies to explain the growth of young innovative firms (JEI) (jeunes entreprises innovantes). However, empirical findings about the role of social capital in the growth of young innovative firms have so far been contradictory. In order to resolve the issues identified in previous studies, we focus on the relational dimension of social capital and differentiate between internal social capital (ISC) and external social capital (ESC). We analyze the perceived utility of resources received from the networks of young innovative firms in their first six years of existence. These firms have also received some form of support from public or semi-public structures in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region (France). In particular, we examine the role of incubation in supporting new businesses. The results indicate that, during the early years, young innovative firms' external social capital is a decisive resource for growth. This is not the case for internal social capital. We observed that joining an incubator appears to have an impact on the relationship under study but not on growth.