Innovation and Incubators: A Qualitative Description of St. John’s Innovation Centre
Hanadi Mubarak AL-Mubaraki *
Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Ali Husain Muhammad
College of Business Administration, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Michael Busler
Richard Stockton College, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this paper was to describe and identify key indicators of St. John’s Innovation Centre located in Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK).
Methodology: The methodology was mainly qualitative based on a literature review and one semi-structured interview in the UK, along with a review of organizational documents. Sixteen key indicators, arranged into four categories, were used to assess the work of the innovation centre. Each indicator and each category were given ratings of Low, Medium, or High to signify their importance in describing the centre.
Results: The research revealed ratings in the High range for all four categories. The Culture and Economy categories received ratings of 95%, while the Policy and Industry categories received ratings of 80%. None of the sixteen key indicators received low ratings. This study supports the importance of indicators in all four areas as measures to accurately describe the innovation centre studied.
Conclusion: The research adds value to academicians and practitioners in government, funded organizations, institutions, and policy makers.
Keywords: Innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, incubators, economic growth