Exploring collaborative workplace models from accelerators to incubators: Key considerations and findings for tourism innovation
Author
Bruin, Vincent Michael
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Pages
82
Abstract
This study examines how tourism-related startups and emerging actors are restructuring collaboration with internal and external partners through innovation hubs, accelerators, incubators, and co-working models in Denmark, a country recognized for its innovative capacity. Focusing on internal design considerations that benefit users rather than broader destination development, it applies an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach: eight in-depth qualitative telephone and video interviews with hub founders and decision-makers, analyzed through thematic textual coding in MAXQDA, followed by an online survey of entrepreneurs (n=19) to test and refine key themes. Two illustrative cases are included: the TourismX accelerator in Denmark and the Welcome City Lab in France, labeled as the world’s first tourism incubator. Findings indicate that many startups seek deeper collaboration with external and established partners, while a number of established players have yet to recognize the full potential of such cooperation; internal competition among startups also emerges as a concern. The study calls for turning these challenges into opportunities and presents nine actionable recommendations to strengthen internal collaboration within co-working environments, along with guidance on integrating problem-based approaches into hub design. The results offer initial insights for hub managers, DMOs, entrepreneurs, and other decision-makers in tourism innovation.
Dette studie undersøger, hvordan turismerelaterede startups og nye aktører omstrukturerer samarbejder med interne og eksterne partnere gennem innovationshubs, accelerators, inkubatorer og co-working modeller i Danmark, et land kendt for sin innovationskraft. Med fokus på interne designovervejelser, der gavner brugerne frem for bred destinationsudvikling, anvendes et eksplorativt sekventielt mixed-methods design: først otte dybdegående kvalitative telefon- og video-interviews med stiftere og beslutningstagere i hubs, analyseret via tematisk tekstanalyse og kodet i MAXQDA, efterfulgt af en online survey blandt iværksættere (n=19) for at teste og nuancere de centrale temaer. To case studeres nærmere: TourismX-acceleratorprogrammet i Danmark og Welcome City Lab i Frankrig, der er betegnet som verdens første turismeinkubator. Fundene peger på, at mange startups ønsker mere og tættere samarbejde med både eksterne og etablerede aktører, mens flere etablerede aktører endnu ikke har indfriet potentialet i sådanne partnerskaber; samtidig opleves intern konkurrence mellem startups som en udfordring. Studiet afsluttes med en opfordring til at udnytte de muligheder, som disse udfordringer rummer, og giver ni handlingsorienterede anbefalinger til at styrke intern kollaboration i co-working-rammer samt forslag til at integrere problembaserede tilgange i designet af innovationshubs. Resultaterne giver indledende indsigter for hubmanagere, DMOs, iværksættere og andre beslutningstagere i turismeinnovation.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
Keywords