Incubators help ideas grow—but not always the companies

Incubators are supposed to help young companies grow, survive, and create jobs. At least, that’s the common perception. But when researchers conduct a comprehensive review of previous studies, a more nuanced picture emerges: the clearest strength of incubators isn’t survival—it’s innovation.
When should an entrepreneur reconsider?

Entrepreneurs, just like everyone else, enter new situations with preconceptions about how the world works and what will happen. But they often make decisions amid great uncertainty. Will customers want the product or service? Is the technology feasible to develop? And when are there sufficient reasons to stick with an idea—or to rethink it?
For entrepreneurs, the right jury may be more important than the prize money

Winning a startup competition isn’t just about the prize money. A new study shows that the right jury can give the winner a seal of approval that means more—and lasts longer—than the prize itself. For other companies, however, it’s the money that makes the biggest difference—at least in the short term.
OP-ED: Services Are Sweden’s New Export Industry—Policy Must Keep Pace

The service sector currently accounts for nearly 40 percent of Sweden’s exports. But Sweden is losing ground to several competitor countries. Lars Jagrén and Johannes Nathell are calling for policies that better capitalize on the service sector’s importance for jobs, exports, and growth. The next government must create better conditions for Sweden’s new export industry.
ADHD can provide a boost when starting a business—but become a burden later on

ADHD is not necessarily a superpower for entrepreneurs. Hyperactivity and impulsivity are linked to a greater tendency to start businesses—while attention problems can, above all, cause problems once the business is up and running. This is shown by a new review of the research on ADHD and entrepreneurship.
Global transition requires regional innovation policy

Transformative innovation policy has taken on an increasingly prominent role in recent years. The underlying premise is that innovation can contribute not only to technological development and economic growth, but also to changing the way people, organizations, and technology interact to address global challenges.
First the idea—then the founder

The story of entrepreneurship is often described as that of a person with an idea. The founder identifies a problem, comes up with a solution, assembles a team, and together they build the company. But a new study shows that there are alternative paths.
Op-Ed: Saudi Arabia’s Next Phase of Reforms Is an Opportunity for Sweden

Don’t miss out on the opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia’s reforms. That is the message Sven Otto Littorin wants to convey to researchers, entrepreneurs, and other decision-makers. Over the past ten years, he has closely followed developments there and believes that the lessons Sweden has learned from the 1990s onward are valuable for Saudi Arabia.
Top 10 | Most-Read Articles in the Second Quarter

Intellectual property, the entrepreneurship industry, funding for researchers, and crowdfunding are topics that many of our readers have been following. The list below offers some summer reading if you missed any articles during the spring and early summer. Here are the 10 most-read articles from the second quarter.
Hey there, Johan Wiklund—is ADHD really a superpower for entrepreneurs?

ADHD is often touted as a superpower in entrepreneurship. But is that really true? Ahead of the webinar “ADHD and Entrepreneurship: Superpower, Risk, or the Right Fit?” we asked Johan Wiklund, a professor of entrepreneurship, a few questions. For the past 15 years, he has been conducting research on ADHD, neurodiversity, well-being, and entrepreneurship.