Assessing Business Incubators Performance From Its Characteristics

Business incubators (BI) are strategic mechanisms that have been used to promote employment and regional development, increasing innovation and entrepreneurship around the world. Here, this research shows the extensiveness of the effects of the characteristics on BI performance. To do so, a multiple case study was elaborated in four countries: Brazil, Chile, Israel, Italy and USA. A survey was realized from 115 experts. A judgment matrix was applied for data collection. The methods Law of Categorical Judgments (LCJ) psychometric scaling method (Thurstone 1927), multicriteria analysis and neurofuzzy technology, were applied to reduce subjectivity in the results. Our findings show that strategic planning and clients are the most relevant characteristics for a increasing BI outcomes, with practical and teoretical implications. Finally, an agenda has been presented. Furthermore, these findings will help managers, government and policy makers in increasing the performance these programs and projects.