Enabling Open Innovation in Digital Startups through the Incubation Program—A Case of Qatar

Reem Al Sharif, Shaligram Pokharel, Mohamed Arselene Ayari, Marwa Essam and Salwa Aqeel
Additional contact information
Reem Al Sharif: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Shaligram Pokharel: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohamed Arselene Ayari: Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Marwa Essam: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Salwa Aqeel: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Researchers have studied open innovation by focusing primarily on big organizations. With digitization, the adoption of open innovation has become widespread, as there is broader access to cheaper and better information and communication technology. Private or public companies will also support individuals, or a group of individuals, to promote an innovative economy. Some countries also provide incubation opportunities and technical and financial support to encourage digital startups. This paper presents insights on the incubation program organized by one of the prominent centers in Qatar that incubate interested potential entrepreneurs to utilize open innovation for digital startups. The paper uses a qualitative analysis method on the data obtained from the interviews with the trainers (staff) of the center and the entrepreneurs who went through the incubation process. Four hypotheses were developed to understand various aspects of open innovation, the collaboration of startups, and the role of the incubation center. A nonparametric statistical test was used to assess the validity of the hypotheses. The results show that incubation and open innovation can contribute to digital startups. The paper concludes with suggested enhancements for incubation. This paper complements the literature by providing a study of open innovation in digital startups and introducing future research in this field.

Keywords: open innovation; digital startups; digital economy; incubation; Qatar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6557/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6557/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6557-:d:825570

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().