From Campus to Market: A Systematic Review of University Business Incubators’ Impact on Startup Growth and Sustainability

Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Management, Economics and Finance

Year: 2026

[PDF]

From Campus to Market: A Systematic Review of University Business Incubators’ Impact on Startup Growth and Sustainability

Dr. Abdelghani Echchabi

ABSTRACT:

This study presents a systematic literature review examining how University Business Incubators (UBIs) contribute to startup growth and long-term sustainability within the evolving third mission of universities. The objective is to decipher how incubation mechanisms jointly influence high-growth outcomes and sustainability of incubated startups. The findings indicate that UBIs enhance venture performance by mobilizing institutional resources, facilitating knowledge commercialization, embedding startups in stakeholder networks, and increasingly integrating sustainability and AI-enabled support tools. The study highlights some gaps in standardized sustainability metrics and longitudinal evidence, and proposes a research agenda focused on performance measurement harmonization and AI-driven incubation models. The findings offer theoretical integration and practical guidance for policymakers and university leaders aiming to design incubation strategies that balance growth with sustainable value creation.

Keywords: University Business Incubator, Startup Firms, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sustainability, Growth