01 - Introduction
Vigía Incubation Framework (VIF)
National Public–Private Incubation Network Guide - Version 1.0
1. Purpose of This Introduction
This section establishes the foundational context for the Vigía Incubation Framework (VIF):
a national operating system that unifies public, private, and academic incubators under a shared methodology, governance model, evidence standard, and foresight-driven strategy.
It explains:
- Why national incubation systems matter
- What conditions require a unified framework
- The conceptual foundations of VIF
- How VIF integrates evidence, maturity, and foresight
- How this section connects with the rest of the VIF documentation
For navigation support, see Section 00a – How to Use VIF.
2. The Need for a National Incubation Framework
Most countries face structural barriers that prevent entrepreneurship programs from operating as a coherent system:
- Fragmentation among incubators, universities, and ministries
- Lack of standardized evidence for evaluating startups
- Weak institutional capacity for executing innovation programs
- Absence of future-oriented sector prioritization
- Limited coordination in investment mechanisms and co‑funding
- Inconsistent reporting and MEL systems
These issues lead to duplicated efforts, low scalability, and weak return on public and private investment.
Global studies - from OECD innovation governance principles to EU startup ecosystem analyses - show that countries with coordinated national frameworks outperform those relying on isolated programs.
This introduction positions VIF as the operating model that resolves these systemic barriers.
3. What VIF Provides
VIF is built on three proprietary Doulab frameworks:
3.1 MicroCanvas® Framework 2.1 (MCF 2.1)
A structured, evidence-based venture development methodology that guides startups through:
- problem validation
- customer analysis
- solution definition
- business model clarity
- risk and feasibility assessment
Primary source: https://www.themicrocanvas.com
3.2 Innovation Maturity Model Program (IMM-P®)
A capability and governance model that measures and strengthens institutional maturity across:
- leadership and decision-making
- governance
- service delivery
- portfolio management
- internal capabilities
- data readiness
Primary source:
https://www.doulab.net/services/innovation-maturity
3.3 Vigía Futura
A national foresight and futures observatory that identifies:
- emerging sectors
- weak signals
- technological disruptions
- socio-economic shifts
- long-term strategic opportunities
This enables VIF to remain adaptive and future-aligned.
Primary source: https://www.doulab.net/vigia-futura
4. How These Three Components Work Together
Although each framework is complete on its own, their integration within VIF produces a systemic national capability:
| Framework | What it provides | Role inside VIF |
|---|---|---|
| MCF 2.1 | Evidence for startup decisions | Ensures standardization and reduces risk |
| IMM-P® | Institutional maturity | Ensures incubators and ministries can execute effectively |
| Vigía Futura | Future sector direction | Ensures national strategy is aligned with long-term opportunities |
Together they create a closed-loop national innovation system:
Evidence → Maturity → Foresight → Governance → Implementation → MEL → Policy Update
This is reinforced in Section 00b – VIF Architecture Diagram.
5. Relationship to Global Practice
VIF is a proprietary Doulab framework but is aligned, where appropriate, with global best practices such as:
- OECD public governance principles
- Evidence-based entrepreneurship literature
- National and regional foresight methodologies
- International incubation models (e.g., Start‑Up Chile, EnterpriseSG, EU EIC ecosystems)
- Maturity-based capability models in public administration
These references are influences, not sources of VIF, MCF 2.1, IMM-P®, or Vigía Futura.
VIF remains an original, standalone methodology developed by Doulab.
6. Why a National Framework Is Necessary Now
Countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia are undergoing:
- digital transformation
- industrial modernization
- demographic and workforce transitions
- increased demand for technological competitiveness
Without a unified system, countries experience:
- inconsistent program quality
- high startup failure rates
- low commercialization of research
- fragmented investment systems
- lack of national learning and feedback loops
VIF provides a structured solution for these challenges.
7. How This Section Connects to Section 02
This introduction sets the conceptual foundation for Section 02 - Ecosystem Diagnostic, which answers:
- Is the country ready for a national incubation network?
- What institutions exist?
- What are their capabilities (IMM-P® baseline)?
- What gaps exist among incubators, universities, ministries, and private-sector actors?
- What structural forces shape the innovation landscape?
Section 02 operationalizes the concepts introduced here into a national diagnostic methodology.
8. Reference Snapshot
VIF relies on three verifiable, canonical sources:
- MicroCanvas® Framework 2.1 - https://www.themicrocanvas.com
- Innovation Maturity Model Program (IMM-P®) - https://www.doulab.net/services/innovation-maturity
- Vigía Futura - https://www.doulab.net/vigia-futura
For international influences, see Section 11 - References (OECD, WIPO, EC, NESTA, UNDP, World Bank).
9. Licensing
Vigia Incubation Framework © 2025 by Luis A. Santiago is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 
See: LICENSE.md
MicroCanvas®, IMM-P® and VIF are proprietary methodologies of Doulab.
10. Conclusion
This introduction establishes the conceptual foundation for VIF: a national ecosystem model that aligns evidence, institution-building, and foresight.
With these concepts defined, Section 02 provides a structured, diagnostic methodology for evaluating a country’s readiness and ecosystem baseline.