Business incubation initiatives have gained increased attention of researchers, practitioners, and
policymakers due to its unique ability to provide a conducive environment that develops and
accelerates entrepreneurship. University-based incubation centers have become an essential part
of the entrepreneurship support services at campuses to offer critical support and provide various
services to newly established start-ups. Recognizing the importance of university incubation
centers, researchers are studying various aspects related to university-based business incubators to
promote entrepreneurship among university students. In this study, a systematic literature review
on university business incubators is conducted on 61 research articles selected after a rigorous
process from three databases (ISI-Web of Knowledge, Taylor & Francis, Emerald). Studies were
analyzed to answer four main questions related to university business incubators' methodological
considerations, proximal and distant outcomes, theoretical lenses, and major research streams.
Results revealed that the majority of the research is being done in European countries and the
majority of research articles (50%) were published in 2017 to 2019 most having qualitative designs
that indicate the importance of campus-based incubation initiatives to promote entrepreneurship.
Proximal and distant outcomes revealed various factors at individual, team, firm, institutional, and
policy levels. Institutional, network, and resource based-view (RBV) is the main theoretical
underpinnings focused on institutional and firm-level studies. This study contributed by analyzing,
summarizing, and evaluating UBI’s literature concerning methodological considerations, proximal
and distant outcomes, and trend of major research streams.
Key Words; University, Business, Incubation, Entrepreneurship, Start-ups
Business incubators and accelerators: a co-citation analysis-based, systematic literature review
