Performance outcome evaluation of accelerators with university links : A case study on the Science Park Jönköping accelerator

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify performance outcome criteria for accelerator programs with university links. Hereby, the study aims to extend the knowledge about important evaluation criteria and influencing factors on performance outcome and to close the gap between incubator and accelerator literature. The objective of the study was to investigate, (1) how participating persons evaluate the performance outcome of the accelerator program, (2) how the evaluation between accelerator and incubator differs and (3) why the evaluation differs. Frame of references Literature about science and technology parks, incubators, accelerators and performance evaluation was used to create the theoretical foundation for this thesis. A research gap about the performance outcome evaluation of accelerators was found, due to the newness of the model. Method The study followed an inductive approach and was of exploratory nature. A qualitative case study was chosen to investigate an accelerator within a science and technology park environment. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the primary data and the methods of coding and categorizing were used to structure and analyse the data. Due to the inductive approach, literature was used to discuss the findings in the end.  Findings Proposition 1: Accelerator performance outcome is mainly evaluated by subjective criteria: “goal realization”, “entrepreneurial motivation” and “entrepreneurial education”. Proposition 2: The performance outcome gets influenced by micro level criteria like “practical experience”, “network support”, “personal development”, “program structure” and “individualization”.