An interactive multi-objective incubatee selection model incorporating incubator manager orientation

This paper proposes an incubatee selection model as an important tool for technology incubators. Previous studies have determined that incubator managers who use multi-criterion screening or selection factors realize lower incubatee failure rates. Despite the importance of the incubatee selection process, there have been no efforts to date to formulate a mathematical model that addresses multi-criterion incubatee selection. Therefore, only a small number of incubator managers use multiple criteria to select the most promising incubatees. Our selection model uses multiple criteria in a multi-objective optimization based on the incubator’s goal. The criteria include profitability, survivability, and worker absorption. Because different ideological orientations of the incubator managers acting as decision makers (DMs) can influence the incubatee selection process, an interactive Tchebycheff method is used to provide a set of alternative solutions. Using a set of alternative solutions, we provide a degree of freedom in the analysis to accommodate DM orientation. Using the proposed model, a decision maker can optimize incubator goals, thereby ensuring the survivability of the incubatee and the success of the technology transfer process. Furthermore, the model also incorporates incubator specialization and the advantages of diversification.