The Role of Proximity in Resources Exchanged by Incubatees of Biopartner Center Leiden, the Netherlands

Veronique Schutjens; Maarten Kruger

doi:10.18778/1231-1952.27.1.04

Authors

Veronique Schutjens Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Princetonlaan 8A, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8530-4542
Maarten Kruger Bureau Buiten, Achter Sint Pieter 160, 3512 HT Utrecht, the Netherlands https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9904-5182

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1231-1952.27.1.04

Keywords:

types of resources exchanged, business relationships, spatial proximity, personal similarity, university business incubator

Abstract

Subject literature assumes that spatial proximity stimulates collaboration in thematic clusters. However, even in micro-scale settings, resource exchange is rare or entails only tangible resources. We empirically unravel how specific proximity indicators relate to the types of resources exchanged in incubatees’ business relationships. Based on 118 business relationships of incubatees, we conclude that on the micro-scale of an incubator, site proximity to another incubatee has a limited relation and geographical proximity to business partners outside the incubator has no relation to the types of resources exchanged. For the latter business relationships, personal similarity positively relates to the exchange of specific business knowledge resources.

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References

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