The Networked Incubator

Within the current literature it is generally agreed that university incubator units offer considerable advantages to new, growth-orientated firms in the provision of shared facilities such as offices, administrative staff and access to university research and grant support. Moreover, in recent years the networked incubator has emerged as an effective mechanism that fosters partnerships between high-technology-based firms (spin-out HTBFs) and other external parties such as government support agencies and funders, thus facilitating technology transfer from universities to the economy. However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies exploring how entrepreneurial networking operates and develops and how the entrepreneur uses these networks to support growth ambitions, within USIs. To explore this issue further, this paper presents evidence from an in-depth longitudinal study of the operation of entrepreneurial networking within 12 entrepreneurial firms based in a USI, and with related stakeholders in the Republic of Ireland. The research methodology is based on longitudinal semi-structured interviews. The results show that the incubator environment enhances the development of social networks that act to support the new entrepreneur during the vital stages of firm foundation. Furthermore, the networks have a key role in facilitating the design and implementation of firm growth strategies within the USI.