Exploring technology business incubators and their business incubation models: case studies from China

This paper explores Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) and their chosen Business Incubation Models. The business models of TBIs have been largely ignored or seen as explained through stratification classifications (e.g. university incubator, virtual incubator etc.). Taking a qualitative approach, five next generation TBIs clustered in the Zhongguancun region of Beijing, the ‘Chinese Silicon Valley’, are analyzed. Framed in the resource-based view this work contributes to the literature through the exploration of: (1) The strategies implemented by next generation TBIs in China (2) The business models of these incubators (3) The fit between each incubator’s business model and their respective strategy. Ultimately this study disentangles how the varying availability of resources and incubatees’ ability to absorb these resources guide incubator strategy.