Resumo

Business incubators have traditionally been recognized as new organizational forms for promoting entrepreneurship and stimulating new business formation. Similarly, business incubation programs, activities, and events have routinely been perceived as being beneficial to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small business. An incubator is justified based on superior innovation performance (Barbero et.al., 2012). Systematic evaluations are needed to understand whether business incubation is an effective and efficient tools.

In this study we will try to find out some more appropriate characteristics of as to understand better how incubator program can be assessed better. With a special focus in Chile, Israeli and Italy. This research aims to verify the relationship between the characteristics and business incubators performance. Furthermore, this research examines how the characteristics affect the outcomes (Business Performance).

Many empirical studies have been applied to assess the Business Incubators (Fernandes, et.al., 2017; Shepard, 2013; Dahlstrand and Politis, 2013; Cavdar and Aydin, 2015). All of these researches tend to reflect different perspectives, patterns and assessment criteria in the literature which are focused on measuring performance of Business Incubators throughout the world (Phan et al. 2005). Literature suggests for business incubation success to be measured at multiple levels, more especially at the incubator related and firm level related impacts (Hamdani 2006).

A conceptual framework is drawn up based on the literature and confirmed with specialists. The model was tested on incubators in three countries: Chile, Israel and Italy. Mailed structured questionnaires were employed for the collected 80 expert (Survey). The data were extracted using an assessment matrix (a survey). To reduce subjectivity in the results achieved the following methods are used complementarily and in combination: Law of Categorical Judgments psychometric scaling method, and neurofuzzy technology.

Finding of the study revealed that radicality in product innovation and agility and flexibility have a strong relationship. Furthermore, the study also found the higher effect on the business performance. Incubators contribute to the international economy and play a vital role not only in the economic recovery but also in smart growth and economic development. These findings will assist incubator managers, policy makers and government parties in successful implementation of incubator policies.

This research presents theoretical and practices implications. The obtained findings could be of potential value to future researchers in business incubation. On the other hand, this study also contributes main managerial implications. First, it helps incubator managers' and policy makers' resource allocation decisions. An effective management can ensure that they have resources and capabilities required to serve its start-up firms. The obtained priorities help practitioners understand the relative importance of the characteristics on the business incubators performance.

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