Research PaperNo Access

Technology Center for Quality and Innovation, Digital Metropolis Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Av. Cap. Mor Gouveia, 3000 – Lagoa Nova., Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-900, Brasil

Corresponding author.

Search for more papers by this author

Raoni Barros Bagno

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3580-1866

Technology Center for Quality and Innovation, Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 – Pampulha., Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brasil

E-mail Address: raonibagno@dep.ufmg.br

Search for more papers by this author

Matheus Luiz Pontelo de Souza

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3717-0700

Research Group of Technological Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GETI), Department of Production Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Av. Dom José Gaspar, 500 – Coração Eucarístico, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30535-901. Brasil

E-mail Address: mslzposa@gmail.com

Search for more papers by this author

Rodrigo Ribeiro

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1902-0266

Centre for Social Studies of Work, Technology and Expertise., Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 – Pampulha., Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brasil

E-mail Address: rodrigoribeiro@ufmg.br

Search for more papers by this author

, and

Leonel Del Rey de Melo Filho

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8958-0093

E-mail Address: leoneldr@pucminas.br

Search for more papers by this author

https://doi.org/10.1142/S0219877024500147Cited by:0 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

Multinationals are showing a growing interest in developing corporate incubation programs. However, only a few papers analyzed this emerging topic. We conducted a study at a Brazilian multinational steel company subsidiary, aiming to elucidate the process of designing a corporate incubator through a three-phase Action Research program that spanned 12 months. As a result of this study, we offer (i) a sequential and evolutionary framework for implementing corporate incubators; (ii) an information management tool that captures and utilizes data for decision-making during venture development; and (iii) an uncertainty-based evaluation tool for venture evolution.

Keywords:

References

Barbero, J. L., Casillas, J. C., Wright, M. and Ramos Garcia, A. (2014). Do different types of incubators produce different types of innovations? The Journal of Technology Transfer, 39, 2: 151–168. Crossref, Google Scholar
Becker, B. and Gassmann, O. (2006a). Gaining leverage effects from knowledge modes within corporate incubators. R and D Management, 36, 1: 1–16. Crossref, Google Scholar
Becker, B. and Gassmann, O. (2006b). Corporate incubators: Industrial R&D and what universities can learn from them. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 31, 4: 469–483. Crossref, Google Scholar
Blank, S. (2013). Why the lean startup changes everything. Harvard Business Review, 91, 63–72. Google Scholar
Bogers, M., Chesbrough, H. and Moedas, C. (2018). Open innovation: Research, practices, and policies. California Management Review, 60, 2: 5–16. Crossref, Google Scholar
Brasil, V. C., Salerno, M. S. and Gomes, L. A. de V. (2018). Valuation of innovation projects with high uncertainty: Reasons behind the search for real options. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 49: 109–122. Crossref, Google Scholar
Brown, T. (2009). Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. 1st edn. Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY. Google Scholar
Checkland, P. and Holwell, S. (1998). Action research: Its nature and validity. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 11, 1: 13. Crossref, Google Scholar
Chen, R. R. and Kannan-Narasimhan, R. P. (2015). Formal integration archetypes in ambidextrous organizations: Formal integration archetypes. R&D Management, 45, 3: 267–286. Crossref, Google Scholar
Chesbrough, H. (2020). Open Innovation Results: Going Beyond the Hype and Getting Down to Business. 1st edn. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. Google Scholar
Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Mass. Google Scholar
Chesbrough, H. W. and Socolof, S. J. (2000). Creating new ventures from bell labs technologies. Research-Technology Management, 43, 2: 13–17. Crossref, Google Scholar
Chesbrough, H. and Bogers, M. (2014). Explicating open innovation: Clarifying an emerging paradigm for understanding innovation. New Frontiers in Open Innovation, eds. H. Chesbrough, W. Vanhaverbeke and J. West. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 37. Crossref, Google Scholar
Christensen, C. M. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, Harvard Business School Print, Boston, MA. Google Scholar
Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T. (2001). Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization, Sage, London. Google Scholar
Coughlan, P. and Coghlan, D. (2002). Action research for operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 22, 2: 220–240. Crossref, Google Scholar
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, California. Google Scholar
Eden, C. and Huxham, C. (1996). Action research for management research. British Journal of Management, 7, 1: 75–86. Crossref, Google Scholar
Evald, M. R. and Bager, T. (2008). Managing venture team relationships in corporate incubators: A case study of network dynamics and political rivalry in a high-tech incubator. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 4, 3: 349–364. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ford, S., Garnsey, E. and Probert, D. (2009). Evolving corporate entrepreneurship strategy: Technology incubation at Philips: Evolving corporate entrepreneurship strategy. R&D Management, 40, 1: 81–90. Crossref, Google Scholar
Furr, N. and Dyer, J. (2014). The Innovator’s Method. Bringing the Lean Startup into your Organization, Harvard Business Review Press, Boston, Massachussetts. Google Scholar
Gassmann, O. and Becker, B. (2006). Towards a resource-based view of corporate incubators. International Journal of Innovation Management, 10, 1: 19–45. Link, Google Scholar
Gonthier, J. and Chirita, G. M. (2019). The role of corporate incubators as invigorators of innovation capabilities in parent companies. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 8, 1: 8. Crossref, Google Scholar
Grimaldi, R. and Grandi, A. (2005). Business incubators and new venture creation: An assessment of incubating models. Technovation, 25, 2: 111–121. Crossref, Google Scholar
Gutmann, T. (2023). Organizational design choices for corporate incubators. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3265511. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hannan, M. T. and Freeman, J. (1984). Structural inertia and organizational change. American Sociological Association, 49, 2: 149–164. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hausberg, J. P. and Korreck, S. (2020). Business incubators and accelerators: A co-citation analysis-based, systematic literature review. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 45, 1: 151–176. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hill, S. A. and Birkinshaw, J. (2008). Strategy–organization configurations in corporate venture units: Impact on performance and survival. Journal of Business Venturing, 23, 4: 423–444. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hill, S. A. and Birkinshaw, J. (2014). Ambidexterity and survival in corporate venture units. Journal of Management, 40, 7: 1899–1931. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hirte, R. (2018). The role of middle managers in the implementation of a corporate incubator: A case study in the automotive sector. Technology Innovation Management Review, 8, 7: 31–39. Crossref, Google Scholar
Hirte, R., Münch, J. and Drost, L. (2017). Incubators in multinational corporations development of a corporate incubator operator model. In 2017 International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC), IEEE. Available at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8279889/, [accessed on December 19]. Crossref, Google Scholar
Knight, F. H. (1921). Risk, uncertainty and Profit, 1st edn., The Riverside Press Cambridge, Boston and New York. Google Scholar
Kohler, T. (2016). Corporate accelerators: Building bridges between corporations and startups. Business Horizons, 59, 3: 347–357. Crossref, Google Scholar
Kötting, M. (2019). Corporate incubators as knowledge brokers between business units and ventures: A systematic review and avenues for future research. European Journal of Innovation Management, 23, 3: 474–499. Crossref, Google Scholar
Kruft, T., Gamber, M. and Kock, A. (2018). Substitutes or complements? The role of corporate incubator support and innovation climate for innovative behavior in the hosting firm. International Journal of Innovation Management, 22(05): 1840006. Link, Google Scholar
Leifer, R., O’Connor, G. C. and Rice, M. (2001). Implementing radical innovation in mature firms: The role of hubs. Academy of Management Perspectives, 15, 3: 102–113. Crossref, Google Scholar
Mahmoud-Jouini, S. B., Duvert, C. and Esquirol, M. (2018). Key factors in building a corporate accelerator capability: Developing an effective corporate accelerator requires close attention to the relationships between startups and the sponsoring company. Research-Technology Management, 61, 4: 26–34. Crossref, Google Scholar
Miller, P. and Bound, K. (2011). The Startup Factories: The Rise of Accelerator Programmes to Support New Technology Ventures, NESTA. Google Scholar
Moschner, S.-L., Fink, A. A., Kurpjuweit, S., Wagner, S. M. and Herstatt, C. (2019). Toward a better understanding of corporate accelerator models. Business Horizons, 62, 5: 637–647. Crossref, Google Scholar
O’Connor, G. and Ayers, A. D. (2005). Building a radical innovation competency. Research-Technology Management, 48, 1: 23–31. Crossref, Google Scholar
Oliva, R. and Kallenberg, R. (2003). Managing the transition from products to services. International Journal of Service Industry Management, 14, 2: 160–172. Crossref, Google Scholar
O’Reilly, C. A. and Tushman, M. L. (2013). Organizational ambidexterity: Past, present and future. Academy of Management Perspectives, 27, 4: 324–338. Crossref, Google Scholar
Osterwalder, A. and Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey. Google Scholar
Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Smith, A., Bernarda, G. and Papadakos, P. (2014). Value Proposition Design, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey. Google Scholar
Phaal, R., Farrukh, C. and Probert, D. (2004a). Customizing roadmapping. Research-Technology Management, 47, 2: 26–37. Crossref, Google Scholar
Phaal, R., Farrukh, C. and Probert, D. (2004b). Technology roadmapping—A planning framework for evolution and revolution. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 71, 1–2: 5–26. Crossref, Google Scholar
Raisch, S. and Birkinshaw, J. (2008). Organizational ambidexterity: Antecedents, outcomes, and Moderators. Journal of Management, 34, 3: 375–409. Crossref, Google Scholar
Richter, N., Jackson, P. and Schildhauer, T. (2018). Outsourcing creativity: An abductive study of open innovation using corporate accelerators. Creativity and Innovation Management, 27, 1: 69–78. Crossref, Google Scholar
Ries, E. (2011). The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. Crown Publishing, New York. Google Scholar
Schuh, G., Lau, F., Zimmermann, R. and Vogt, F. (2017). Configuration options for corporate incubators: development of a description model using the morphological analysis method. In 2017 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), IEEE. Available at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8125319/, [accessed on April 14]. Crossref, Google Scholar
Selig, C. J., Gasser, T. and Baltes, G. H. (2018). How corporate accelerators foster organizational transformation: An internal perspective. In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC), IEEE. Available at https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8436287/, [accessed on February 11]. Crossref, Google Scholar
Shankar, R. K. and Shepherd, D. A. (2019). Accelerating strategic fit or venture emergence: Different paths adopted by corporate accelerators. Journal of Business Venturing, 34, 5: 105886. Crossref, Google Scholar
Sharma, P. and Chrisman, J. J. (1999). Toward a reconciliation of the definitional issues in the field of corporate entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 23, 3: 11–28. Crossref, Google Scholar
Souza Junior, W. C. D., Torres Júnior, N. and Miyake, D. I. (2018). A servitização e o desempenho organizacional no setor de máquinas e equipamentos. Revista de Administração de Empresas, 58, 5: 475–493. Crossref, Google Scholar
Stringer, R. (2000). How to manage radical innovation. California Management Review, 42, 4: 70–88. Crossref, Google Scholar
Thiollent, M. (1996). Metodologia da pesquisa-ação, 7. edn., Cortez, São Paulo. Google Scholar
Thiollent, M. (1997). Pesquisa-ação nas organizações, Atlas, São Paulo. Google Scholar
Tushman, M. L. and O’Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous organizations: Managing evolutionary and revolutionary change. California Management Review, 38, 4: 8–29. Crossref, Google Scholar
Weiblen, T. and Chesbrough, H. W. (2015). Engaging with startups to enhance corporate innovation. California Management Review, 57, 2: 66–90. Crossref, Google Scholar
Zahra, S. A. (2015). Corporate entrepreneurship as knowledge creation and conversion: The role of entrepreneurial hubs. Small Business Economics, 44, 4: 727–735. Crossref, Google Scholar
Zedtwitz, M. Von (2003). Classification and management of incubators: Aligning strategic objectives and competitive scope for new business facilitation. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 3, 1/2: 176. Crossref, Google Scholar