• The study provides a profile of technology business incubators in the United States, reviews previous research, and reports results of research on the technology transfer activities of technology business incubators.
• Thestudy found that technology business incubators have not had a high incidence of technology transfer despite the fact that many were established with that goal in mind.
• The focus of the article is on the technology transfer aspects of technology business incubators

From previous studies there has been found that faculty members had little incentive to become involved with firms located in university incubators.

The four most common services offered by the sampled incubators were:

• access to labs, lab equipment, and sophisticated computer equipment;
• help in obtaining equity financing;
• clerical and receptionist services; and
• office equipment and furniture.

The services most frequently offered by outside service providers were:

• legal and patent services;
• accounting and tax assistance;
• international trade assistance; and
• government contract procurement assistance.

Tenants were recruited through an informal external network, referrals by affiliated agencies, and by tenant or graduate firm referrals. The top three tenant entrance screening criteria were:

• compatibility of the business to the objectives of the incubator;
• demonstrated business capability of the principals; and
• projected growth potential.

The litterature review conclude that not much is known regarding the effectivness of technology business incubators as technology transfer and commercialization mechanisms.

From Phillips own survey only 40% of the incubator managers interviewed reported that direct technology transfer or commercialization of technology of associated university research had occurred.

-- OlaWedefelt - 30 Mar 2009