Chapter 12 Socioeconomic Networks: In Search of Better Support for University Spin-Offs

Over the years, the above advantages have gained wide recognition in such a way that fostering spin-offs has become part of most universities’ and research centers’ policy. Among the many ways of accelerating the growth of USOs, perhaps the most captivating one is establishing incubator organizations. The networks of incubators have been built gradually in industrialized regions such as the United States and in Western Europe over the past two decades and now have reached maturity ( Lalkaka, 2003 ). The first generation of incubators in the 1980s essentially only offered affordable office facilities to potential new ventures, including shared services, and soft loans. As time progressed, it was realized that the needs of spin-offs included more than just physical and financial support. This situation has challenged some incubators to change into providers of “added-value support,” such as business skills training and connecting the entrepreneurs to various networks.