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Incubators as Tools for Entrepreneurship Promotion in Developing Countries

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  • Ibrahim Semih Akçomak

Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on incubators in developed and developing countries. We show that the concept of incubators has evolved in time according to market and firm needs. Contemporary successful incubators are profit-oriented, provide a wide range of services, focus more on intangible business services, and employ qualified managers and support staff. By drawing lessons from country experiences we assess the appropriateness of incubators as a tool for entrepreneurship promotion in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ibrahim Semih Akçomak, 2009. "Incubators as Tools for Entrepreneurship Promotion in Developing Countries," WIDER Working Paper Series RP2009-52, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:rp2009-52
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Surana, Kavita & Singh, Anuraag & Sagar, Ambuj D, 2020. "Strengthening science, technology, and innovation-based incubators to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from India," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Thobekani Lose & Robertson K. Tengeh, 2015. "The Sustainability and Challenges of Business Incubators in the Western Cape Province, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Huang, Chieh-Wei & Huarng, Kun-Huang, 2015. "Evaluating the performance of biotechnology companies by causal recipes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 851-856.
    4. Hanadi Mubarak Al-Mubaraki & Michael Busler, 2017. "Challenges and opportunities of innovation and incubators as a tool for knowledge-based economy," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Sven Dahms & Suthikorn Kingkaew, 2016. "University Business Incubators: An Institutional Demand Side Perspective on Value Adding Features," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 4(3), pages 41-56.
    6. Kavita Surana & Anuraag Singh & Ambuj D Sagar, 2020. "Strengthening science, technology, and innovation-based incubators to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from India," Papers 2005.13138, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2020.
    7. Masutha Mukhove & Rogerson Christian M., 2014. "Small enterprise development in South Africa: The role of business incubators," Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, Sciendo, vol. 26(26), pages 1-15, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; Technological innovations; Management (Technological innovations); Technology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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