University's involvement in technology business incubation: what theory and practice tell us?

Abstract

This article serves as introduction to this special issue of International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management on ‘Innovative university programs in technology business incubation’. University technology business incubation has been an important emerging policy tool for supporting regional innovation and technology based entrepreneurial growth over the past half century. It is premised on the belief that a research university’s active entrepreneurial involvement provides critical value added inputs essential for the creation and development of innovative ventures and new products. But what university policies are more conducive to a pro-development regional role is very much mission driven and context specific. After synthesising the past several decades of literature, practice and recent trends in the field, this paper summarises the contributions included in this issue in light of the ongoing debate. The goal of the special issue is to address important questions and provide insights through case study examples that may help resolve controversies and/or improve our entrepreneurial university’s incubation programme offerings.