Strategic assets in technology-based incubators in Brazil

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between strategic assets and the launch of new products in technology-based incubators (TBIs) in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach: The authors applied two surveys, one for the universe of TBIs’ managers in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the other to the incubated firms’ managers/owners. Two statistical techniques were used: correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Findings: The main finding of this paper is that TBIs’ strategies focusing on the supply of knowledge assets and the creation of relationship assets are more effective than strategies focused only on the supply of physical infrastructure for firms located in incubators. Research limitations/implications: Because the sample of 100 respondents of incubated companies was the result of a non-probabilistic convenience sampling, the outcomes also cannot be generalized. Practical implications: For managers of TBIs, there is a challenge to focus on the supply of intangible and high value added assets for incubated firms. For managers/owners of incubated firms, the authors provide an orientation to what they should seek or demand when deciding where to place their business in a TBI. For the government, the results of this research may help to formulate public policies to support and incentivize TBIs. For investors, the results can help to define where to seek the most innovative projects. Social implications: Innovation and entrepreneurship are understood as sources of wealth creation and social development. Originality/value: The authors propose in this paper that there is a theoretical gap between traditional theories of innovation and entrepreneurship and the strategic behavior and performance of business incubators and their interconnected stakeholders. Here the authors seek to bridge this gap.