RECONCEPTUALIZING BUSINESS INCUBATORS IN STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20310094Keywords:
business incubators, startup ecosystems, innovation systems, entrepreneurial ecosystems, institutional theory, resource-based view, network theory.Abstract
This study conceptualizes business incubators as pivotal institutional actors within startup
ecosystems and examines their evolving role in supporting innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
The study employs a qualitative conceptual approach that combines systematic literature analysis,
comparative evaluation, and theoretical synthesis. The analysis explores the functional roles of business
incubators, their interaction mechanisms with startups, and their evolutionary development within entrepreneurial
support infrastructures.
Building on established theoretical perspectives, including institutional theory, the resource-based view,
ecosystem theory, and network theory, the study develops a multidimensional framework that systematizes the
role of business incubators across key functional domains. In addition, a theoretical matrix is proposed to map
core incubator functions to corresponding scientific perspectives, enabling a more structured interpretation of
their systemic impact.
The findings contribute to a more integrated understanding of business incubators as hybrid institutional
mechanisms that simultaneously operate as resource providers, knowledge intermediaries, and ecosystem
coordinators. This study advances the academic literature by proposing a consolidated conceptual model that
clarifies the position of business incubators within startup ecosystems and highlights their role in facilitating
innovation-driven development.
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