Culture of organizational learning and innovation in business incubators: an analysis of the incubators associated with the Ceara Network of Business Incubators (RIC)

The main objective of this study is to analyze the culture of learning and innovation in the Ceara Network of Business Incubators (RIC) incubation environment, which can contribute to foster innovation in business incubators. To achieve this goal, seven incubators were analyzed, in addition to the network itself. Qualitative research of a descriptive and exploratory nature performed data collection via semi-structured interviews with open questions, following a pre-set script. After that, the interviews were analyzed with content analysis technique and adaptations for Core Analysis of the Meaning. Regarding results, it was possible to understand that the service portfolio offered to business incubators is often through the Ceara Network of Incubators, with resources coming from development lines, and the support of the incubators to incubated companies is not enough to satisfy the demands that the incubation environment needs. Five of the researched incubators are technology-based, and only four of those have adequate laboratory infrastructure for R&D activities and partnerships with researchers and stricto sensu graduate programs, which favor the culture of learning and innovation. We conclude, then, that the incubation environment does not often present proper infrastructure for the culture of learning and innovation to happen.