Business incubator can be considered a new, hybrid type of an economic development tool in Slovakia which entails business functions, the support of commerce, and the development of cities.
The experience from abroad proves that an incubator can be an effective mean how to increase employment, market new technologies, and develop local economies. The business incubator provides entrepreneurs with premises for the realisation of their business plans, together with equipment; additional, training and counselling services, necessary information, and useful contacts. Under the term "business incubator" should be understood an organisation which systematizes the process of the set-up of new, successful companies via the provision of premises and a complex, integrated range of services. However, not all services and equipment are provided internally. Most of incubators secure the clients´ access to complex services by means of the combination of internal sources and a networking with external suppliers.
Technological incubator - its mission is to support transfer of technologies from the research, development and university environment to businesses via the establishement of new, innovative companies oriented at technologies. Technological incubators implement the method "research-based spin-off" that creates suitable conditions for the use of outputs of research and development, industrial and utility models as well as the development of innovative technologies (producing products of higher-added value). The vision of the incubator is to be a key support institution for start-up technological, innovative companies in the region and to promote knowledge-based economy via the interconnection of research, development, and innovation with business practice, and thus increase the competitiveness of the region.
Technological incubators are usually situated close to research and development parks, universities or research laboratories. Therefore, tenants gain access to research devices and get in touch with professionals of those institutions. Moreover, in such a way it is easier to "network" with experienced and successful entrepreneurs from the technology field or even to take part in strategic alliances in order to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities as a sub-contractor or supplier.
Job incubator - as the practice shows, people who have been unemployed for more than 1 year start to lose their work and social habits. Those who have been jobless for 3, 4 and more years lost their work habits a long time ago. Commom ways of work with such unemployed, e.g. professional counselling and re-training courses, are insufficient. These people usually do not react to offers of counselling services and courses and have ceased to actively search for a job a long time ago. Their activity has narrowed to the fulfilment of duties set by the job centres (regular calling to job centres and a passive collection of confirmations from employers to prove that they have applied for a job). The basic pre-condition of the establishement and development of a job incubator is the existence of a functioning regional counselling system aimed at the development of employment.
Job incubator can focus on a specific sector or deal with different areas, such as e.g. generally beneficial works, construction and reconstruction works, crafts, farming or care-taking etc. Such incubators are usually situated in economically disadvantaged areas and their aim is to revitalise the region and its work force.
Inkubator of the 2nd generation - is accessible to entrepreneurs also directly within the premises of a business incubator, but its services are available online, too. This enables a wider circle of entrepreneurs to use all services e.g. directly from the seat of the company or elswhere. In such a way, much higher effectivness of the incubator is secured. A wide number of starting entrepreneurs can thus get their marketing services at lower costs, tools for the facilitation of sale and purchase of products and services, for interviews and procurement, tools for e-negotiations, auctions and stock exchanges, counselling services, and for the facilitation of the start-up process itself.
Virtual incubator - clear virtual environment for constant professional development of entrepreneurs and managers of innovative hight-tech small and medium-sized enterprises. Its services are provided via the set-up of e-learning web site and in the on-line form - standard group or individually tailored open classes, self-educational on-line sections, group discussions, multi-media supported lessons, conferences and chat options, frequently-asked questions, publications and bibliographical database.
According to the goal, two types of incubators can be defined:
Multi-purpose incubator - accepts any type of enterprises fulfilling commercial criteria,
Specialized incubator - focuses on individual activities, e.g. hi-tech sectors.
Specialised or so-called targeted incubator is an interesting category which aims to help starting entrepreneurs from a specific filed of industry that is typ***l for a local economy and focuses on activities fostering the development of local enterprises within a specific sector, e.g. food procession, crafts, wood production, suppliers of metallurgical industry etc. The result is the direct link of contacts with capital sources in a given sector.
Incubators can be distinguished also by the type of tenants incubators serve.
Mixed incubator provides services to different kind of industrial fields and markets and is the most wide-spread.
Production incubator is oriented solely on small and starting production companies.
Servis incubator rents premises and supports entrepreneurs from the service sector.
"Pre-incubator" - is mainly a part of an ordinary incubator providing services similar to that of a virtual incubator since its target group are those intersted to start-up in the incubator before their "physical" entry into it.
