World Benchmark Report 19/20 – Data, Insights, and Best Practices from Business Incubators and Accelerators

World Benchmark Report 19/20 – Data, Insights, and Best Practices of Business Incubators and Accelerators

An in-depth look behind the scenes in the operations, challenges and, opportunities for university-linked business incubators and accelerators around the world

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Innovation is changing the world. Competition to develop the latest unicorn startup is higher than ever before in this new born-global age. Around the world, business incubation and acceleration programs strive to offer the most cutting-edge facilities, services, tools, and support to their startup clients on the verge of greatness.

How do these business incubators and accelerators provide value to their client startups? Synthesizing the key findings of the fifth iteration of the World Benchmark Study, this report explores the challenges and opportunities programs around the world face today, and the innovative strategies they have developed to stay ahead of the innovation curve.

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The UBI Global World Benchmark Report 2019 – 2020 is the 5th edition of the gold-standard benchmark study of business incubators and accelerators

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Each edition of the World Benchmark Study has provided UBI Global members with a road map to enrich their programs as well as the local and global innovation ecosystems. In addition to this report’s comparative impact and performance assessment, we connect business incubators and accelerators with their peers and match their startups with innovative corporate partners within their respective sectors and industries.

This iteration of the World Benchmark Study features 364 programs, the largest sample to date. For the first time, we have extended our research beyond university incubators and accelerators to include public, private, and corporate programs. The data collected from the participating programs – located in 82 countries – collectively provide fascinating insights into the diversity, agility, and rapid growth of the industry.

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Key Takeaways from this report include:

• Technology trends

• Industry and sector growth

• Employee data

• Startup activity

• Best practices

• Service portfolio must-haves

• Event details

• Importance of partners and sponsors

• Impact of mentors and coaches

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Besides providing incubator and accelerator managers crucial insights on how to further improve their programs, this report offers government officials insights on how to further develop their respective innovation ecosystems. Moreover, it is intended to help potential investors, partners, and sponsors to make informed decisions. Last, but certainly not least, the information in the study will assist prospective startup founders in their quest to find the best program to launch them into a sustainable future.

The World Benchmark Report 2019 – 2020 is the latest publication from UBI Global, a Sweden-based intelligence company and community specializing in mapping, highlighting, and connecting the world of business incubation and acceleration. Through a network of more than 1,200 member organizations from over 90 countries worldwide, UBI Global provides matchmaking, benchmarking, and research services to corporations, governments, incubators, accelerators, and startups.

Celebrating the recent success of the World Incubation Summit 2019, where the organization announced the World’s #1 and top-listed business incubators and accelerators, UBI Global continues to achieve worldwide success as the leading authority on innovation programs.

About the Authors

Holger Meyer, a Stockholm-based researcher, and entrepreneur who is the Head of Research at UBI Global in charge of leading the team in research efforts. Holger holds a Ph.D. in International Affairs and Political Science from The University of Georgia, USA and has previously taught University courses in the United States, France, and New Zealand and frequently presented his research at leading international conferences.

Joshua Sowah, UBI Global’s Researcher and Data Analyst, based in Stockholm, is an author of the report. He holds a degree in Development Studies from Lund University (Sweden) and has majored in economics and economic history. Key competencies include graphic design and illustration, both of which have been utilized in the production of this report.

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