The OECD provides analysis and guidance on how policy can stimulate an incubation and acceleration system that supports enterprise start-ups and scale-ups. Our case studies, reviews and reports range across OECD countries and address key challenges for policy makers in promoting start-ups and scale-ups through incubation and acceleration.
Incubation and Acceleration
Tools for entrepreneurship promotion.
What can the OECD offer?
What's the issue?
Incubator models are evolving rapidly internationally and this has implications for government support. The trends include an increased focus on innovative rather than general start-ups, broader packages of support to complement office space and an integral offer of seed funding. Moreover, specialist incubators are also emerging for particular industry sectors (such as life sciences or marine industries) and particular target groups (such as women entrepreneurs or university entrepreneurs).
Accelerators offer short duration support to accelerate the achievement of key milestones for the most promising firms. The main purpose of business accelerators is to speed up the process of business creation and to prepare entrepreneurs to receive an influx of capital. The services offered to entrepreneurs are similar to those offered by business incubators and typically include management training, the development of a growth strategy, and the preparation for external investment.
Digitalisation is one of the current trends having important impacts on business incubation and acceleration, along with increased internationalisation and increasingly rapid innovation. For example, digitalisation is leading to the establishment of fully-virtual incubators and hybrid incubators blending virtual services (e.g. mentoring, coaching) with physical services (e.g. access to wet labs, face-to-face networking). Governments need to respond to the changing environment in their policy approaches, whilst getting the basics right in terms of robust methods of business selection, effective bundles of services, and effective quality and performance management across incubator and accelerator systems.
OECD work on Incubation and Acceleration
The appropriateness of the incubation and acceleration system to the needs of start-ups and scale-ups in Portugal:
This report assesses the appropriateness of Portugal’s incubation and acceleration system to the needs of start-ups and scale-ups and makes recommendations for policy measures to strengthen the system, taking into account the lessons of international inspiring policy practices. Portugal’s incubation system has grown considerably over the past 10 years, driven by sustained public support at the local and national levels. The focus now is on levelling up the quality of support provided through the incubation system. The OECD assessment points to a number of opportunity areas, including building the base of high-quality mentors, introducing more sector-specialised programmes, supporting the competences of personnel running incubators, and providing internationalisation supports for start-ups.
Action Plan for Strengthening Portugal’s Incubation and Acceleration System:
Building on the recommendations from the OECD assessment report and focusing on those expected to have the greatest benefits, this Action Plan details 10 priority policy actions for implementation in the short- to medium-term to improve Portugal’s incubation system. For each of the 10 policy measures, the Action Plan sets out the steps to be taken, the rationale, and an inspiring international policy practice. It also proposes key performance indicators and a timeline to measure progress. Key measures include the introduction of monthly peer review and sessions for incubators in the national network, developing a strategy to enhance the pool of high-quality mentors, creating a soft-landing scheme for Portuguese start-ups to spend time in overseas incubators, and launching a public tender for a consortia to deliver a specialised incubation programme in a defined sector or technology area.
Supporting start-up globalisation in Ireland through incubation and acceleration:
This report examines the role of business incubators and accelerators in fostering the rapid internationalisation of Irish start-ups and scale-ups. It analyses the strengths, weaknesses and support gaps in Ireland’s incubation system and proposes policy measures to strengthen the role of incubators in fostering start-up globalisation, drawing on lessons from the policy experiences of the United Kingdom, Sweden and Estonia. Ireland benefits from numerous effective incubation and acceleration initiatives and strong political commitment towards supporting the creation of “born global” firms. The system could be strengthened by increasing the provision of soft-landing schemes, encouraging the development of sector-specialised programmes, creating a network for business incubators and accelerators, and investing in improving the quality of mentoring.
Start-Up Globalisation through Incubation and Acceleration:
This report examines how governments can operationalise business incubation and acceleration policies for the purpose of stimulating global start-ups. It presents the approach of three countries – Korea, Singapore, and France – that have been successful in fostering global start-ups through incubation and acceleration policy initiatives. The report showcases the key success factors and policy lessons stemming from the countries’ different approaches and profiles notable examples of programmes from each country, including the use of immersive soft-landing programmes in global innovation hubs and the involvement of large corporates in the delivery incubation and acceleration programmes.
Get in touch
For further information, please contact Jonathan Potter