Title: Ranking business incubation: mathematical techniques

Authors: Hanadi Mubarak Al-Mubaraki; Ghanima Al-Sharrah; M. Aruna

Addresses: College of Engineering, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 39964, Nuzha, Kuwait ' Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Velammal College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai, 625 009 Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Incubators are globally renowned as a premier 21st century location for technology and technology-based economic development. This paper is new and unique perspective into the identification and ranking of business incubators worldwide in relation to economic development using mathematical techniques. Much research has been done on the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of incubators regarding their contribution to economic development; however, until now, none has been done from a mathematical point of view. This paper attempts to rank business incubators according to four indicators namely: mission, financial status, size and obstacles. The study applies survey and mathematical techniques to 43 selected industry incubators worldwide. The countries were chosen based on their known international success outcomes and membership in the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA). Findings based on critical financial indicators indicate that mathematical techniques could be utilised in the future to rank incubators worldwide to enhance the development of business practices within incubators.

Keywords: technology incubators; innovation; entrepreneurship; job creation; economic development; business incubation; incubator ranking; mathematics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.052141

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.6, pp.466 - 487

Received: 16 Mar 2012
Accepted: 12 Sep 2012
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article