University incubators as agents for technology transfer and economic growth: case studies in USA, Finland and Ukraine

摘要

This paper discusses the contributions of university incubators to: 1) technology intelligence, transfer and commercialisation 2) regional economic development. We utilise the case method and describe the history and contributions of university-based incubators started by the authors in the USA (1982), Ukraine (1992) and Finland (1996). We also discuss the role of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Office of Technology Commercialisation for assisting the incubator companies to evaluate and commercialise new technologies. We conclude with the 'lessons learned' and guidelines that may be useful to national economists, university administrators, and regional agencies that are managing new business incubators as agents for economic growth.