The Absorptive Capacity of Incubated Companies

In competitive and dynamic environments, micro and small technology-based companies find it hard to be born and prosper, so the support given by business incubators can contribute to the development of these companies and, in particular, their absorptive capacity. Despite the abundance of works on absorptive capacity, few studies relate this dynamic capacity to small companies and its relationship with incubation processes in Brazil. This research objective was to analyze the role of technology-based incubators in the Triangulo Mineiro region in the absorptive capacity development in their incubated companies. The research had a qualitative approach, being of the descriptive type with multiple case studies. Data collection was carried out through documentary research and interviews with managers of three incubators and 23 entrepreneurs, using the content analysis technique on the data collected. As a result, it was found that the innovation environment, monitoring, mentoring, and network of contacts are the main contributions to the development of companies. These elements simultaneously support the aspects of the potential absorptive capacity (ACAP), with the expansion of the acquisition capacity and the performed ACAP aspects, helping in the analysis and validation of the transformation of knowledge. Thus, it contributed to the expansion of the potential ACAP model and was carried out as an interorganizational process in the context of technology-based incubators and micro and small companies.