Facilitating the Growth of New Technology-based Firms through Incubation: An Integrated Model.

Professor David A. KirbyUniversity of Surrey

March 2007D.Kirby@surrey.ac.uk

NTBF’s

• Definition– - 25 years old– Based on potential invention/technological risk– Established to exploit an invention/technological

innovation

• Purpose – Technology Transfer/Commercialisation (Autio, 1997)– Catalyst for Innovation (Autio, 1997)– Source of Employment (Oakey, 1991)

Definitions: Incubator/Pre-Incubator

• No formal or legal definition• Describes a wide range of activities intended to help

entrepreneurs– Develop their ideas– Launch a new venture

• NBIA (2001) definition– “provide hands on management assistance, access to financing

and orchestrated exposure to critical business or technical support services. They also offer entrepreneurial firms shared office services, access to equipment, flexible leases and expandable space – all under one roof”.

• 3000 incubators world-wide– Different contexts– Different objectives

Definitions: Science Parks

• No uniformly accepted definition• IASP definition

“ an organisation managed by professionals, whose aim is to increase the wealth of its communities by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its associated businesses and knowledge-based institutions. To enable these goals to be met a Science Park stimulates and manages the flow of knowledge and technology amongst universities, R & D institutions, companies and markets; it facilitates the creation and growth of innovation-based companies through incubation and spin-off processes; and provides other value-added services together with high-quality space and facilities.”

• Incubators part of the Science Park Concept

A Continuum of Incubation

Concept(Proving)

Launch(Establishing)

Growth(Developing)

Pre-Incubator(desk)

Incubator(room)

Science Park(building)

Incubation Process

Incubation Process

Market, Technical, Resources & Managerial

Problems

Improved Success

Accommodation

Training, Mentoring Coaching

Resources (Capital)

Expertise (Business/Technology)

Networking

The Surrey Model

SETsquared Centre

Surrey Technology Centre

Surrey Research Park

Pre-Incubator

Incubator

Science Park

Pre-Incubation

Faculty & StudentsEntrepreneurship Awareness

training

IP Advice

Pump-priming funds

Accommodation

Office Services

Mentoring/coaching

Monitoring/Review

Networking

Build Entrepreneurial Team

General Public

Technology

Screening/Assistance

IP Advice

Accommodation

Office Services

Mentoring/Coaching

Monitoring/Review

Networking

Build entrepreneurial Team

Post Incubation

• Integrated incubation process– Pre-Incubator Incubator Science Park

• After-care support– Tailored to needs/stage in evolution of firm

• Mentoring• Seminars/ workshops• Events

– Linked into the activities of the University• Student Projects• Outreach activities (STEP/KTPs)

• Incubators are becoming the entrepreneurial schools of tomorrow (Albert and Gaynor, 2003)

Conclusion• Surrey Model

– Continuum• “Hard” and “soft” support• Prestigious address

– Quality accommodation• Networking opportunities

– Each other– University– Regional support

– Managed professionally• As a business

– Embedded in politico-economic strategies of• Region• Nation

– Research (Science) Park becoming a research & teaching laboratory– Needs testing in different contexts