Abstract
Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) have become central instruments of India's innovation policy, translating research, entrepreneurial talent, and government support into viable ventures. This review synthesises recent (2016–2026) peer-reviewed and institutional literature on how smart technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data analytics, blockchain, and digital collaboration platforms, are reshaping incubation practice, with particular attention to Maharashtra, one of India's most active startup ecosystems. Building on this literature, the review sets out research objectives and questions, profiles Maharashtra-based incubators such as the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), the riidl Foundation, Venture Center, and AIC Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum, and discusses barriers, including infrastructural, financial, cybersecurity-related, and cultural constraints, that hinder digital adoption. Drawing on this synthesis, the paper proposes a conceptual framework linking smart-technology adoption to incubation efficiency and startup outcomes, moderated by government support, funding, digital skills, and organisational culture, and recommends a mixed-methods design for future empirical validation of the framework across Maharashtra's TBI ecosystem.
