The Relation between Support by Business Incubators and Performance of NTBFs

This paper develops a construct to evaluate the effectiveness of the support provided by business incubators on the performance of new technology-based firms, and in particular, on the innovation strategy. Previous studies revealed that business incubators support NTBFs through the following activities: (1) access to networks, (2) monitoring, (3) knowledge development and dissemination, (4) finance and administrative mobilization, and (5) creation of exposure. However, there is still a scarcity of studies on the effectiveness of the support by business incubators on the performance of NTBFs. Our effort is to operationalize knowledge development and dissemination activities based on empirical findings discussed in the literature. The study integrates the operationalized activities into a theoretical model that will be tested in practice. The model contributes to resource-based theory where we consider the capability of NTBFs in utilizing support and offering resources by business incubators. Our model explains the criteria that enable managers of business incubators to evaluate their performance in order to provide more effective support for their tenants.