A comprehensive simulation model for the infant-incubator-feedback system was developed in a Matlab/Simulink® environment to investigate all heat exchange relationships, variables and factors that have an influence on the overall thermo-neutrality of the environment. The model was also used to determine the benefits and limitations of using a convectively heated single-walled incubator in nursing preterm infants with very low birth weight < 1000 grams and low gestational age 28 weeks. The infant was modelled as one-lump with two layers; core and skin. The infant shape was approximated to a cylinder. The model incorporated all compartments of the infant-incubator system including core, skin, incubator air space, mattress, incubator walls, air-circulating fan, heating element, added oxygen (for resuscitation purposes), and humidification chamber, which has not previously been considered. The results of the simulation were in terms of the temperature variation over time, of the following parts of the system: core and skin temperatures and incubator air space temperature. Results of the simulation with added humidity showed that the body temperature of a 900 gram infant, with an initial body temperature of 35.5 ºC, did not reach the thermo-neutral range between 36.5-37.5 ºC in two hours, on air mode. Whereas, on skin mode, both core and skin temperature reached to 36.87 ºC and 36.5 ºC in two hours, and thus a thermo-neutral environment was achieved. These outcomes are consistent with clinical empirical reports. The simulation model is a closed-loop system with a PID controller for each mode; air servo controlled and skin servo controlled. The controller parameters were virtually estimated by the Zeigler-Nichols Method as real values were not available. Nevertheless, the overall stability of the whole system has been achieved by applying a step input which was verified by the Root Locus Method.

A comprehensive simulation model for the infant-incubator-feedback system was developed in a Matlab/Simulink® environment to investigate all heat exchange relationships, variables and factors that have an influence on the overall thermo-neutrality of the environment. The model was also used to determine the benefits and limitations of using a convectively heated single-walled incubator in nursing preterm infants with very low birth weight < 1000 grams and low gestational age 28 weeks. The infant was modelled as one-lump with two layers; core and skin. The infant shape was approximated to a cylinder. The model incorporated all compartments of the infant-incubator system including core, skin, incubator air space, mattress, incubator walls, air-circulating fan, heating element, added oxygen (for resuscitation purposes), and humidification chamber, which has not previously been considered. The results of the simulation were in terms of the temperature variation over time, of the following parts of the system: core and skin temperatures and incubator air space temperature. Results of the simulation with added humidity showed that the body temperature of a 900 gram infant, with an initial body temperature of 35.5 ºC, did not reach the thermo-neutral range between 36.5-37.5 ºC in two hours, on air mode. Whereas, on skin mode, both core and skin temperature reached to 36.87 ºC and 36.5 ºC in two hours, and thus a thermo-neutral environment was achieved. These outcomes are consistent with clinical empirical reports. The simulation model is a closed-loop system with a PID controller for each mode; air servo controlled and skin servo controlled. The controller parameters were virtually estimated by the Zeigler-Nichols Method as real values were not available. Nevertheless, the overall stability of the whole system has been achieved by applying a step input which was verified by the Root Locus Method.

This thesis is concerned with the complexity of communicating sustainability in a co-creative context. Sustainability is seen as three dimension, namely economic sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. This thesis includes all three dimensions in the sustainability communication. The purpose is to investigate how sustainability can be understood and explained in a co-creative incubator. Since the research of sustainability communication within the co-creative literature is relatively undiscovered this thesis makes an attempt to conceptualise the sustainability communication. The context of the study is a single case study of an incubator with a co-creative approach. The research took an abductive approach with the method of a qualitative empirical collection. The empirical data collection consists of semistructured interviews with actors in the co-creative incubator, namely top management, business designers and startups. Findings reveal that the sustainability communication can be understood and explained through a challenge based view. Every startup face different challenges and sustainability is communicated accordingly. However, the communication of economic sustainability is more direct than the other two dimensions. Additionally, the complex communication in the co-creative incubator shed new lights on the concept of trust within co-creation. The intensity of sustainability communication implies to be dependent on trust between incubator and startups. This thesis adds original insights to the field of combining co-creation and incubators, specifically factors that influence the sustainability communication in the co-creative incubator.

Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify performance outcome criteria for accelerator programs with university links. Hereby, the study aims to extend the knowledge about important evaluation criteria and influencing factors on performance outcome and to close the gap between incubator and accelerator literature. The objective of the study was to investigate, (1) how participating persons evaluate the performance outcome of the accelerator program, (2) how the evaluation between accelerator and incubator differs and (3) why the evaluation differs. Frame of references Literature about science and technology parks, incubators, accelerators and performance evaluation was used to create the theoretical foundation for this thesis. A research gap about the performance outcome evaluation of accelerators was found, due to the newness of the model. Method The study followed an inductive approach and was of exploratory nature. A qualitative case study was chosen to investigate an accelerator within a science and technology park environment. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the primary data and the methods of coding and categorizing were used to structure and analyse the data. Due to the inductive approach, literature was used to discuss the findings in the end.  Findings Proposition 1: Accelerator performance outcome is mainly evaluated by subjective criteria: “goal realization”, “entrepreneurial motivation” and “entrepreneurial education”. Proposition 2: The performance outcome gets influenced by micro level criteria like “practical experience”, “network support”, “personal development”, “program structure” and “individualization”.

Henkel's New Business team is a corporate venturing unit that explores corporate entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Henkel Adhesives Technologies. The new business ideas are implemented through one of these models: incubator, venturing or innovation ecosystem. In current practice, there is no systematic framework in place to choose the implementation model. The goal of the thesis is to propose a framework for choosing the most appropriate model for implementation of a new business idea in Henkel. The thesis approaches the topic on practical and theoretical grounds. The first part outlines the related literature and theoretical focus. The literature covers definitions and theories of incubator, corporate venturing, corporate venture capital, innovation ecosystem and investment decision-making process. The practical approach relates to the company case studies of Philips, 3M and BASF. In this thesis, each model is analyzed based on a broad literature review, case studies and personal interviews with experts. The second part is the main discussion and analysis of the topic assembling with practical examples in Henkel. It comes to a recommendation that Henkel should prioritize and choose the most appropriate model for the new business proposal after the "concept scoping" stage, and before detailed investigation. It also proposes a scorecard framework that entails 14 key criteria for choosing the mode: degree of market competition, potential disruptiveness, technological risk, time to market, strategic alignment, degree of customization, dependency of related industries, technological newness of related industries, idea source, protectability of intellectual property, internal expertise, technological competence, commercial competence and parenting advantages. Furthermore, a new business developing strategy matrix is constructed based on two dimensions: strategic importance and operational relatedness. It is to further check the accuracy and validity of the results from the scorecard framework. Finally, it is suggested that future research can be done to improve the framework by adding weightings and scale of each criteria within the framework.

The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual model based which examines the influence of various antecedents of the business incubation process. The conceptualized model will be tested empirically using data collected from North American business incubators. The data used are from the National Business Incubator Association's State of the Industry survey. The Partial Least Squares method of analysis is used to explore the identified antecedents, and is used to test validate the model. While a number of resources were identified as components of the incubation process and are considered antecedents of incubator effectiveness (e.g., social networking, access to funding, training, manager/staff intervention), the findings indicate the network of professional services (e.g., legal, marketing, MIS advice) assembled in and around the incubator have the most significant impact on incubator effectiveness. Other resources, such as training, links and management resources, can have an impact, but only insofar as they relate to the professional services resources. The application and screening process were confirmed as essential to find clients that have the proper "fit" within an incubator. The findings indicate that the physical and age characteristics of an incubator are not factors in effectiveness, nor is the networking activities among incubator clients, lending support to a burgeoning class of virtual incubators, accelerators and innovation centers. The results support resource-advantage theory as a foundation theory in the incubation process, and give researchers a basis for future work in this area. The study helps fill gaps in academic research on incubators, and confirms previously theorized work on the process of incubation. In practice, incubator managers and stakeholders can use these results to assemble the particular resources they need for their type of incubator, and more effectively select potential clients based on those resources. This should allow a smoother, more even flow through the incubator, a better use of scarce and valuable resources, and likely higher graduation rates. This study is the first empirical analysis of the incubation process to arrive at a statistically-validated model of business incubation.

The Swedish entrepreneurial environment is a heavily male-dominated field characterized by unequal conditions, a significant gender gap, and discriminatory practices. Research is filled with contradictory arguments discussing how gender is not an issue in the world of entrepreneurship, when in fact this conceals gender equality issues that are still prevalent today. This study aimed to describe and explain, from an incubator perspective, the challenges and opportunities that arise from working with gender equality in entrepreneurship. The purpose was also to study the effects these efforts have on the ventures partaking in the incubator’s program, as well as their perceptions of it. Based on a literature review of gender equality in entrepreneurship, a qualitative approach deemed necessary to explain the complexity of this issue. This research performed a case study on one Swedish incubator consisting of two samples. Data was collected through in-depth interviews held with the incubator team and online questionnaires were distributed to some ventures currently partaking in the incubator program, as well as to some alumni. The results indicated that there were more challenges than opportunities involved in working with gender equality in entrepreneurship. The most frequently addressed challenges for female entrepreneurs related to contexts of receiving financial aid from investors, the unequal opportunities given by supporting actors such as advisors, banks, lawyers etc., and the effect of gender stereotypes. In the analysis it was identified that women’s unequal opportunities consisted of, among others, women receiving different questions than men, having to defend their ideas to a larger extent, and consistently being viewed in a traditional manner concerning family-care constraints. However, many of the identified challenges for female entrepreneurs could be used in favor of the incubator. Meaning that the incubator could turn the challenges into opportunities for helping female entrepreneurs in their incubator program. For instance, the incubator can help reduce the barriers for entrepreneurs who want to pursue industries typically dominated by the opposite gender, this in turn would create a larger diversity across industries. The incubator had a positive influence on the ventures and their perceptions indicate that equal conditions are provided between the genders. The relationship was difficult to fully describe and explain as the incubator’s gender equality work was novel. Future research could investigate more in-depth the underlying reasons why gender inequality issues still pertain, but also more about what actions could be done to address the issues.

A creative incubator for global nomads. The Standard Hotel, reimagined and transformed intoa vibrant, dynamic hub for global nomads who value transience over permanence. Repurposed to inspirethe cross-pollination of ideas, it serves as a temporary home for those in a perpetual state of transition. Designed to generate serendipitous interactions, it exists to connect people of different social classes and histories.

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The focus of this study was to examine the past educational experiences women entrepreneurs had that related to the operation of their businesses in an incubator setting. The study also examined educational needs not adequately addressed for women entrepreneurs in this setting. Data were gathered by participant interview methods using a qualitative research approach. Twenty subjects were selected for individual interviews. They were located through personal contact upon recommendation of the managers or executive directors of business incubator facilities. Interview questions addressed business, computer, oral and written communication, and general educational experiences related to their businesses as well as perceived educational needs. In addition, eight incubator managers where the subjects' businesses were located were also interviewed to determine their perceptions of the entrepreneurs' educational needs. Demographic information was obtained from the subjects as to age, previous business experience, educational experiences, degrees earned, professional certification, and other education. Their previous occupations as related to their present business enterprises were also obtained. Taped responses to the interview questions were transcribed, verified, and examined for similarities and differences. A profile of the 20 female entrepreneurs who had their businesses located in a business incubator facility emerged. They had a mean age of 43 years, had worked for a number of years before making the decision to go into their own businesses, and had diverse educational backgrounds ranging from high school graduation through the Ph.D. degree. Their business experiences varied widely. A common concern of the 20 subjects interviewed was lack of computer knowledge and experience. This concern surfaced regardless of prior course work completed. Also, development of additional accounting, communication, and marketing skills emerged as educational needs. Course structure of available courses was a concern. Courses offered on an intensive basis were needed. Further, the interviewees felt that considerable time could be saved by having course work and seminars taught on-site at the incubator facility. Coursework geared to small businesses so that the material and information obtained would have a direct application to their endeavors was desired. In addition, having a computer center within the incubator facility was identified as needed by the female entrepreneurs. / Ed. D.