This pioneering work explores both the theory and practice of business and technology incubation and acceleration over the past six decades as an approach to new venture creation and development. With a global scope, the Handbook examines incubation concepts, models, and mechanisms, providing a research-based analytical foundation from which to understand the emerging role of modern incubators, accelerators, science parks, and related support tools in building modern entrepreneurship ecosystems for promoting targeted economic development. Featuring contributions from internationally renowned scholars and practitioners, the Handbook covers four major themes: understanding incubation and acceleration; incubation mechanisms and entrepreneurship ecosystem development; national and regional incubation policy studies; and incubation practice and assessment. Chapters investigate the expanding importance of newer models and novel modes of new venture support such as smart launching through focused training, mentoring, and financing. This Handbook will help to equip policy makers, facility and program managers, investors, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge to handle support for future business and technology ventures more confidently and effectively. It also provides a deeper understanding of the incubation approach for researchers and scholars of entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development.

This book presents the proceedings of the IDEAS Conference, which is intended as a forum for a new generation of researchers. IDEAS is an arena that encourages researchers to defy their field's boundaries, leveraging disciplinary mindset into contributions to broad domains within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Management. Further, IDEAS explores novel questions and challenges existing policies and practices on how to apply science and technology as an input to design more innovative and sustainable systems that promote human well-being.

An increasingly competitive environment can lead to considerable problems for many organizations as they struggle to adapt to change. As a result, they fail to create the conditions that can lead to sustainable development over the long term, thus affecting the capabilities of employees. This book provides a fresh perspective on sustainable change and development in organizations, as well as a critical perspective on lean implementation, work environment and sustainability.The expert contributors address the development in, and of, organizations, as well as the development process between organizations, such as in networks or clusters. They discuss topics, such as the role of customers in the development of public organizations; developing knowledgeable practice at work; exploring evidence-based practice and the challenge of regional gender contracts. Undergraduates and postgraduates in different management fields including organizational theory, innovation, human resources, quality development and entrepreneurship will find this book to be of interest. The empirical results and interdisciplinary approach will appeal to practitioners and policy-makers at national, as well as international levels. Contributors: G. Avby, D. Bienkowska, S. Bjurulf, H.E. Borve, G. Brulin, F. Daniellou, K. Edwards, K. Ekberg, J. Eklund, M. Elg, P-.E. Ellstroem, J. Engstroem, H. Etzkowitz, K. Evans, A.-C. Fagerlind Stahl, A. Fayolle, V. Gaffey, M. Gustavsson, A. Halvarsson Lundkvist, P. Hasle, M. Hasu, L. Hoegberg, L. Honkaniemi, K. Kallio, M. Klofsten, H. Kock, E. Kvande, I. Laur, M.H. Lehtonen, P. Lindskog, A.P. Nielsen, P. Nilsen, B. Poksinska, T. Praetorius, M. Riche, E. Saari, B. Skoeld, H. Snyder, I. Soelvell, E. Sundin, L. Svensson, M. Tillmar, M. Toivonen, T. Tuominen, E. Vedung, L. Witell

This book presents the proceedings of the IDEAS Conference, which is intended as a forum for a new generation of researchers. IDEAS is an arena that encourages researchers to defy their field's boundaries, leveraging disciplinary mindset into contributions to broad domains within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and Management. Further, IDEAS explores novel questions and challenges existing policies and practices on how to apply science and technology as an input to design more innovative and sustainable systems that promote human well-being.