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Exploring Factors in the Success of Creative Incubators: a Cultural Entrepreneurship Perspective

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Abstract

This study aims to identify factors for success in creative incubators from a cultural entrepreneurship perspective. In order to achieve this goal, a qualitative approach and the case study method were adopted. Therefore, Portuguese creative and cultural incubators were selected: INSerralves and UPTEC/PINC. Data collection was based on interviews and document analysis. Content analysis was also used as a data-processing technique. Based on the empirical evidence obtained, we conclude there is no single model of success factors for a creative incubator, since incubating new undertakings is a highly flexible process, aiming for different objectives. The study takes into account the lack of research on creative incubation. Thus, the results obtained can be an important contribution to support future research in this area of incubators and creative and cultural industries. Some practical implications for incubator managers are also presented.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments that contributed to the development of this paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from FCT and FEDER/COMPETE through grant PEst-C/EGE/UI4007/2013.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Management and Economics Department, CEFAGE-UBI Research Center, University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209, Covilhã, Portugal

    Mário Franco

  2. Department of Business Administration, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Applied Sciences Jena, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade 2, 07745, Jena, Germany

    Heiko Haase

  3. Archive Management, Avenida das Madalenas, 9020-017, Funchal, Portugal

    Sandra Correia

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  1. Mário Franco
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Correspondence to Mário Franco.

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Franco, M., Haase, H. & Correia, S. Exploring Factors in the Success of Creative Incubators: a Cultural Entrepreneurship Perspective. J Knowl Econ 9, 239–262 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-015-0338-4

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