Based on resource dependence theory and the concept of interlocking directorates, the purpose of this paper is to understand the importance of networks for start-ups and the role incubators play in these companies’ networking processes.,The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with the entrepreneurs responsible for three start-ups and the heads of their incubators. The interview data were subjected to content analysis using NVivo software.,The results indicate that start-ups often resort to networks to overcome their weak reputations and scarce resources. Incubators play a quite important role in this process since they promote events that encourage the creation of partnerships and networks either between start-ups within the same incubator or with external institutions. In addition, the results reveal that most cooperation networks are informal and that they fulfil needs that start-ups are not yet able to meet themselves, for example, when they compete for public tenders.,The present study explored this topic from two perspectives (i.e. start-ups and incubators). This approach facilitated the identification of the main features upon which start-ups depend, the entities to which these companies turn for help, the kind of communication in which they usually engage, the primary advantages of establishing cooperation networks and the main types of support given by incubators.,Most studies of cooperation networks are based on transaction cost economics, a resource-based perspective and/or institutional theory. In contrast, this study innovated by applying resource dependence theory and the concept of interlocking directorates, which provided an alternative explanation regarding cooperation networks’ importance to start-ups and incubators’ roles in these companies’ networking processes.

中文翻译：

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从资源依赖和董事局联动的角度看初创孵化器在合作网络中的作用

基于资源依赖理论和联动董事的概念，本文旨在了解网络对初创企业的重要性以及孵化器在这些公司的网络化过程中所扮演的角色。该研究是通过半结构化访谈进行的负责三个初创企业的企业家和孵化器的负责人。访谈数据使用NVivo软件进行了内容分析。结果表明，初创企业经常诉诸网络来克服其信誉低下和资源匮乏的问题。孵化器在此过程中起着相当重要的作用，因为它们促进鼓励在同一孵化器内的初创企业之间或与外部机构建立伙伴关系和网络的活动。此外，结果表明，大多数合作网络都是非正式的，它们满足了初创企业尚无法满足自己的需求，例如，当它们竞争公开招标时。本研究从两个角度探讨了该主题（即，初创企业ups和孵化器）。这种方法有助于确定初创企业所依赖的主要特征，这些公司寻求帮助的实体，它们通常参与的交流类型，建立合作网络的主要优势以及所提供的主要支持类型合作伙伴网络的大多数研究都是基于交易成本经济学，基于资源的观点和/或制度理论。相比之下，这项研究是通过应用资源依赖理论和连锁理事会的概念而创新的，