Title: Management of university incubators in China and in France: a comparative analysis

Authors: Mireille Matt, Ming Feng Tang

Addresses: Bureau d'Economie Theorique et Appliquee (BETA), Universite de Strasbourg and CNRS, 61 avenue de la Foret Noire, F-67085, Strasbourg 67000, France. ' School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, n°55 Guanghuacun Street, Chengdu, 610074, Sichuan, P.R. China; Bureau d'Economie Theorique et Appliquee (BETA), Universite de Strasbourg and CNRS, 61 avenue de la Foret Noire, F-67085, Strasbourg 67000, France

Abstract: This paper compares the management of university incubators in China and France and provides some insights into the way university incubators should be managed to enable the creation of successful start-ups. By analysing the contexts for their emergence in both countries, we assess the similarities and differences between the two systems and provide some explanation for performance differences. This paper makes use of national surveys, of interviews with directors and management staff of university incubators, and the large literature on incubators and the innovation systems of China and France. Although the incubators studied have similar functions, there are differences related to their incubation systems. Chinese and French incubators are similar in terms of nature, structure, objectives, governance and complexity of funding systems, but different in terms of their selection criteria, incubation process, types of services and outcomes.

Keywords: university incubators; incubated companies; start-ups; entrepreneurship; innovation management; China; France.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2010.031902

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2010 Vol.11 No.3, pp.282 - 300

Published online: 02 Mar 2010 *

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