THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF INCUBATED ENTERPRISES

摘要

This study aims to examine, from the point of view of the managers of incubators, the ways in which Brazilian technological/technology incubators contribute to the internationalization of companies. To meet this aim, we developed a model that, in addition to supporting research, can be used to provide a basis for studies of internationalization in small technology-based companies and incubators and to assist their managers. The model was developed from the literature on two areas of interest work. On one hand, references have been addressed in the internationalization of companies, doing a survey on the factors influencing the internationalization of enterprises, especially micro and small technology-based companies, and other hand, aspects of the process of incubation of technology ventures, as well as the actions and services provided by incubators. The model was divided into four categories. The Entrepreneur category is related to the characteristics and experiences of entrepreneurs in the incubated companies in relation to the external market. The Organizational Characteristics category is related to the internal capacity of the incubated companies that are important for their internationalization. The Network category includes the networks of business relationships, both national and international, of the enterprises and the incubator that influence the internationalization of incubated enterprises. The External Market category considers the features of the global environment including the global integration of the industry and the specific characteristics of each foreign market in which the company is likely to enter. A descriptive study was conducted in 40 technology incubators in Brazil (50% of the population) and who met the following criteria: be in effective operation for a period longer than two years and at least one graduate company. Forty percent (40%) of the incubators in the sample were found to have a formal program focused on the internationalization of incubated enterprises however 60% of the incubators include organizations that have started the process of internationalization. The survey data indicate 24 actions and services that were most relevant to the internationalization of companies. These services and actions identified in this study may help in the definition of strategies as to what can be provided to new firms, encouraging their entry into international markets. They also serve as a recommendation for technology incubators and government programs that aim at contributing to the internationalization of incubated and graduated enterprises. The proposed model proved useful in identifying the actions and services of the incubators that contribute to the internationalization of enterprises. The division into categories was important, both for operational data collection, and to provide better visualization of the theory and the points where incubators can play a more effective role in the internationalization of enterprises.