The role of entrepreneurial incubators in the development of small and start-up enterprises in the Republic of Croatia and the world

Mala, srednja i start-up poduzeća su glavni izvor inovacija, zaposlenja i poduzetničkih vještina, no često se suočavaju s poteškoćama pribavljanja financijskih potpora i kredita, osobito u ranim fazama. S ciljem povećanja poduzetničkih aktivnosti i pružanja pomoći u razvitku i učvršćivanju položaja takvih poduzeća na tržištu, osnivaju se poduzetničke potporne institucije poput poduzetničkih inkubatora. Za poduzetnike početnike, poduzetnički inkubatori predstavljaju izvor znanja, pružaju im osjećaj sigurnosti, mogućnost umrežavanja, pristup potrebnoj infrastrukturi po povoljnijim uvjetima kao i mentorsku podršku i pomoć u pokretanju poduzetničkih projekata i poduzeća te njihov brz i održiv razvoj. Funkcija inkubatora razlikuje se po državama i stupnju razvijenosti gospodarstva. Primjeri dobre prakse u Republici Hrvatskoj i u svijetu ukazuju na to da su inkubatori kao potporne institucije potrebni i dobrodošli poduzetnicima početnicima kako bi im pomogli u njihovim prvim koracima u poduzetništvu.Small, medium and start-up enterprises are the main source of innovations, employments and entrepreneurial skills, but are often faced with difficulties of obtaining financial supports and loans, especially in the early phases. In order to increase entrepreneurial activities and providing help in development and stabilizing its place in the market, entrepreneurial support organisations are founded, such as enterpreneurial incubators. For entrepreneurial beginners, enterpreneurial incubators represent the source of knowledge, a sense of security, possibility of networking, access to necessary infrastructure on more favorable terms as well as mentor support and help with starting entrepreneurial projects and enterprises and their fast growth and sustainable development. Incubators functions are different according to countries and their economic development. Some examples of good practices in Republic of Croatia and in the world suggest that incubators as support organisations are needed and welcomed for enterpreneurial beginners to help them in their first steps in entrepreneurship