The Academic Incubator as a Fluid Mosaic: An Ecological Interpretive Framework
The Academic Incubator as a Fluid Mosaic: An Ecological Interpretive Framework

Author(s): Giovanni Battista Dagnino
Subject(s): Economy, Business Economy / Management, Accounting - Business Administration
Published by: ASERS Publishing
Keywords: academic incubators; fluid mosaic model; incubator strategic entrepreneurship; governing policy; entrepreneurial ecosystem
Summary/Abstract: Extant incubator research has offered attention to the description of incubator facilities and structure. At the same time, less consideration has been given to the incubatees (Hackett and Dilt, 2004), and more specifically to network activities (private as well as business-related) among firms located in this type of incubator. Therefore, additional research is required to investigate incubators’ internal functioning mechanisms, identifying the key elements that positively influence the establishment and development of new ventures within it. To improve our understanding of incubation internal dynamics and relationship evolution, we propose a conceptual framework that looks at the academic incubator on the ground of the cell biology-rooted fluid mosaic model, which is related to the cell membrane structure, as a fruitful way to look at incubatee relationships. We illustrate the benefits of this vantage viewpoint for looking at new venture development within the incubator and present a few key implications for incubator strategic entrepreneurship and governing policy.

• Details
• Contents