The Role Export Incubators in Facilitating Technology-based Firms’ Entry into Foreign Markets; Case Study in Iran Nano-technology Center in China

International entrepreneurship focuses on the search for business development opportunities across borders. Foreign incubators can play an important role in facilitating the entry of companies into foreign markets. So far, however, less research has focused on the role of international incubators' in the internationalization of start-ups from developing countries. The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the role of these incubators in the foreign entry of technology-intensive companies from an emerging country. First, by reviewing the research literature complemented by interviews with managers of client companies, the incubator services for facilitating foreign market entry have been identified. Then, applying the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method, the existing gaps in the provided services are examined and finally, the improvement in the risk and control of exporting companies has been analysed. Based on the results of theme analysis, four main factors including knowledge accumulation and learning, access to networks, risk reduction and increasing control and commitment were identified and then 24 expected services from the growth center were prioritized. The overall performance of the incubator indicates a schematic improvement in the slope of the risk-control chart for the target companies.