Sustainable Development Important for European Business Incubators
February 8, 2021Sustainable development is an important phenomenon nowadays: see the current importance of, for example, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, the climate discussion, and the Circular Economy.
Also the important role of business incubators for fostering entrepreneurs who wish to start up and develop their businesses is clearly acknowledged nowadays. Despite the acknowledged importance of business incubators and sustainable development separately, there is hardly any attention for the engagement of business incubators in sustainable development activities.
Tom Ballering and Enno Masurel contributed to filling this research gap by investigating the engagement of business incubators in activities aimed at sustainable development. 59 European business incubators participated in their research. They found that a significant proportion of business incubators in Europe clearly engage in activities aimed at sustainable development, with their own activities (e.g., 80% of the business incubators sponsored social activities and 68% pay attention to their own recycling) and with their programs (e.g., 25% offers programs to create positive environmental impact and 31% offers programs to create positive social impact). Also for the selection of mentors and incubatees, environmental and social issues are important. The empirical analysis also suggests the existence of a separate subgroup of sustainable business incubators (15% of the whole research group), that differ significantly from other business incubators on a range of environmental and social aspects.
According to the authors, their paper may serve as a blue print to develop sustainable business incubators, that meet the criteria of these times and the ambition of many startups.
Ballering, T., & Masurel, E. (2020). Business Incubators and their Engagement in Sustainable Development Activities: Empirical Evidence from Europe. International Review of Entrepreneurship, 18(2), 203-220.
More news
Start-up VU-AMS has big plans with clever stress monitoring device
VU-AMS is on a mission to revolutionize how we understand and manage stress-related health issues. Now an official VU spin-off, there are big plans for clinical applications. Founder of VU AMS Martin Gevonden explains: “We offer researchers autonomic biomarkers that are valid, reliable and easy to use, without getting under the skin.” After thriving in […]
News
Biotech boost(er) for life sciences innovations
Amsterdam researchers have secured Biotech Booster funding for a total of six projects, that include a promising cancer treatment, a new diagnostic method for Alzheimer’s Disease, an implant helping blindness, lab innovation in biotechnology, and a nutritional intervention for mental health. The researchers will develop a solid business case for their innovations in the time […]
News
PULSE Sport Wins Prestigious Dutch Sports Innovation Award 2024
PULSE Sport, a start-up from the Demonstrator Lab, has reached a significant milestone by winning the prestigious 14th Dutch Sports Innovation Award. The company’s flagship product, a cutting-edge athlete management system, integrates advanced software and artificial intelligence to revolutionize athlete health and performance monitoring. About the Innovation PULSE Sport’s athlete management system provides a holistic […]
News