Nurturing Entrepreneurs, Creating Enterprises: Technology Incubation

Business incubators have evolved from other business development services and grown rapidly in number- from 200 a decade ago to about 2,500 today. Much of the recent growth has been in the industrializing countries, such as China and Brazil where incubators are generally focused on technology-based ventures and linked to technical universities or technology parks. This paper presents a performance assessment of two incubators in Brazil- the Biotechnology Incubator (Biominas) in Belo Horizonte, MG and the Centro Incubatador de Empresas Tecnologicas (ParqTec) in Sao Carlos, SP. We compare their implementation processes, institutional structures and the services they provide to their members and affiliates. The financial viability, cost-effectiveness and stakeholder satisfaction are analyzed. The success factors and likely future trends in technology business incubation are identified. Biominas and ParqTec have demonstrated success in launching new enterprises, developing good linkages with universities and research institutes, business and government agencies, assisting the state development initiatives and contributing to their tax bases. It is now imperative for them to wor