Title: Assessing government-supported technology-based business incubators: evidence from China

Authors: Ming Feng Tang; Jaegul Lee; Kun Liu; Yong Lu

Addresses: Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, 610074 Chengdu, China ' School of Business Administration, Wayne State University, 5201 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA ' School of Business Administration, Wayne State University, 5201 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA ' Information Sciences and Technology, Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton, 76 University Drive, Hazleton, PA 18202, USA

Abstract: This study examines the effectiveness of government-supported incubator programmes in China. Findings highlight the importance of private-sector involvement in the incubators' governing body. Previous literature acknowledges the importance of government intervention in the entrepreneurial incubation process to overcome innovation market failure. However, factors that potentially influence the effectiveness of government-supported incubators have not been explored. Using surveys and follow-up interviews with managers of tenant venture firms, as well as administrators of four sampled incubators in Shanghai and Chongqing, we find that government-supported business incubators effectively provide physical infrastructure, general resources such as administrative support, and access to university resources. Except for the incubator that has been managed by business professionals, government-supported incubators are found to be rather ineffective in offering counselling, external private financing, and networking services to incubated tenant firms, which suggests that government agencies and officials lack business and technological expertise. The implications of the effectiveness of government-driven incubator programmes and avenues for future research are discussed.

Keywords: business incubators; entrepreneurship; technology parks; government support; incubator assessment; university incubators; China; technology management; private sector; entrepreneurial incubation process; physical infrastructure; general resources; administrative support; university resources; counselling; external finance; private finance; networking services; government agencies; business expertise; technological expertise.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2014.060956

International Journal of Technology Management, 2014 Vol.65 No.1/2/3/4, pp.24 - 48

Accepted: 04 Sep 2013
Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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