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Incubators, Accelerators and Regional Economic Development

Author

Listed:
  • Madaleno, Margarida

    (London School of Economics)

  • Nathan, Max

    (University College London)

  • Overman, Henry

    (London School of Economics)

  • Waights, Sevrin

    (Humboldt University Berlin)

Abstract

A growing wave of co-location programmes promises to boost growth for entrepreneurs and young firms. Despite great public and policy interest we have little idea whether such programmes are effective. This paper categorises accelerators and incubators within a larger family of co-location interventions. We then develop a single framework to theorise workspace-level impacts. We summarise available evaluation evidence and sketch implications for regional economic policy. We find clear evidence programmes are effective overall. But we know little about how effects operate – or who benefits. Providers and policymakers should experiment further to establish optimal designs.

Suggested Citation

  • Madaleno, Margarida & Nathan, Max & Overman, Henry & Waights, Sevrin, 2018. "Incubators, Accelerators and Regional Economic Development," IZA Discussion Papers 11856, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11856
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    2. John Van Reenen, 2022. "Innovation and Human Capital Policy," NBER Chapters, in: Innovation and Public Policy, pages 61-83, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Nicholas Bloom & John Van Reenen & Heidi Williams, 2019. "A toolkit of policies to promote innovation," Voprosy Ekonomiki, NP Voprosy Ekonomiki, issue 10.
    4. Max Nathan & Henry Overman, 2020. "Will coronavirus cause a big city exodus?," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(9), pages 1537-1542, November.
    5. Cuntz, Alexander & Peuckert, Jan, 2023. "From hackers to start-ups: Innovation commons and local entrepreneurial activity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cities; clusters; accelerators; incubators; entrepreneurship; economic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • R30 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - General
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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