The performance of business incubators and their potential development in the north east region of england

Abstract

The creation of incubators is viewed by many local and regional strategic bodies in the UK and abroad as an effective way of nurturing and facilitating the success of new technology-based companies. Drawing on a survey of 17 incubators operating in the North East of England, based on original findings, this paper empirically examines the crucial role of existing incubators in the local economy in enterprise creation and attempts to identify areas of good practice that can be used as benchmarks for the creation of future Incubators.

Keywords:

• Local economic development
• business incubators
• innovation
• enterprise culture