University-based incubators’ performance evaluation: a benchmarking approach
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the existing incubation practices and to develop suggestions for other incubations programs’ practitioners, by developing a benchmark study of outstanding Taiwanese university-based incubators (UBIs).
Design/methodology/approach
This research result is based on the methodology for generating a benchmarking from six outstanding Taiwanese UBIs and for other business incubators around the world.
Findings
According to this research result, the authors propose eight key performance indicators (KPIs): three for setting up and operating UBIs and five for incubator functions and services. Among those eight KPIs, the average set-up cost is US$595,000; the average number of incubatees is 22; the length of tenancy is four years; and the growth in incubatees’ turnover is around 15 percent.
Research limitations/implications
Even the samples were outstanding UBIs in Taiwan; for future research, this approach might be applied to a bigger number of incubation centers or UBIs.
Practical implications
Many countries or areas still lack experience in setting up and running business incubators; therefore, practical advices for the managers are crucial for the success of these business incubators, and this benchmarking methodology can be applicable in some of those cases.
Originality/value
The benchmarking methodology for setting up the values of each KPI and the evaluation approach.
Keywords
Citation
Wann, J.-W., Lu, T.-J., Lozada, I. and Cangahuala, G. (2017), "University-based incubators’ performance evaluation: a benchmarking approach", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 34-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-02-2015-0018
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited