Key influencing factors for technopreneur development and incubation program

Abstract

Technopreneurial potential of graduates has become one of the national agenda and has been attracting the interest of policy makers, educationists and development agencies. In Malaysia, the numbers of graduate students participate in technopreneur development and incubation programs (TEDIP) are still far below the expectation and financial allocation by the government. This study aims to identify the key influencing factors among participants to participate and to remain in the TEDIP, also to construct new theories that contribute to the knowledge on technopreneur development (TED).Mix method research was applied in the study.The samples were chosen based sampling frame which comprise Master of Science Technopreneurship participants in Malaysian IHLs for quantitative study; and judgment sampling i.e. government and Malaysian IHLs key informants for the qualitative study.The result highlighted Seven (7) primary factors and Ten (10) secondary factors that have influenced the TEDIP participants to participate, as well as Eighteen (18) primary factors to remain in the program.On the basis of finding, the model developed will hopefully help the TED organization to increase the number of participants in TEDIP.The policy makers and the TED agencies may utilize this result to develop further TED program in the country