The business incubation concept: Global possibilities for vocational-technical education

Applying the business incubation concept to economic development is not new. Around the world this concept has been used by governments to boost their small-business structures to support national economies. This paper suggests two possibilities to extend the impact of this concept on economic development. First, the paper suggests a more active role for postsecondary vocational-technical Institutions in economic development and proposes a holistic approach including entrepreneurial education and training and direct support of business incubators. This proposition is supported by research conducted in the United States involving case studies of promising business incubation programs supported by two-year colleges. Second, it is suggested to position postsecondary vocational-technical education in a global perspective to prepare the future entrepreneurial base for the needs of more challenging and collaborative international trade relations.