02 - Ecosystem Diagnostic
Vigía Incubation Framework (VIF)
National Public–Private Incubation Network Guide - Version 1.0
1. Introduction
A national public–private incubation network can only succeed if the country fully understands the structure, strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, and limitations of its innovation ecosystem.
The Ecosystem Diagnostic is the foundational step of VIF and determines:
- Whether the country is ready for a unified national incubation system
- Which institutions should participate as incubator nodes
- The maturity and capability gaps that need to be addressed
- Which sectors and regional clusters offer the highest potential
- The risks and structural constraints the national system must navigate
This section must be read before Sections 03–05, as it provides the analytical foundation for the system architecture, governance model, and funding structure.
For navigation support, see 00a - How to Use VIF.
For terminology, see 00c - Glossary.
2. Purpose of the Diagnostic
The diagnostic provides a structured, evidence-based assessment of the national innovation ecosystem, helping to answer:
- What institutions currently exist?
- What roles do they play?
- How capable are they (based on IMM-P®)?
- What gaps must be addressed for a national network to function?
- Which sectors show future potential (via Vigía Futura)?
- What structural constraints could influence implementation?
The diagnostic ensures VIF is adapted to the country’s real context, not deployed as a generic model.
3. Diagnostic Framework Overview
The Ecosystem Diagnostic integrates three Doulab methodologies:
| Framework | What It Contributes | Diagnostic Role |
|---|---|---|
| MCF 2.1 | Evidence structure for venture-level insights | Ensures that incubator pipelines are assessed on evidence, not assumptions |
| IMM-P® | Capability and governance maturity scoring | Evaluates institutional readiness |
| Vigía Futura | Future sector mapping & weak signals | Identifies emerging opportunities |
Together, they produce a multi-layer national snapshot.
4. Diagnostic Process Flow
flowchart TD
A["Data Collection<br/>Interviews, Documents, Mapping"] --> B["Institutional Assessment<br/>IMM-P® Baseline"]
B --> C[Actor & Network Mapping]
C --> D["Sector & Trend Mapping<br/>Vigía Futura Inputs"]
D --> E[Gap Analysis]
E --> F[Readiness Scorecard]
F --> G[Design Inputs for Section 03]
5. Components of the Diagnostic
5.1 Institutional Landscape
The diagnostic identifies all relevant actors across:
- Public sector (ministries, agencies, municipalities)
- Academia (universities, research centers)
- Private incubators & accelerators
- Corporate innovation programs
- Venture capital & angel networks
- NGOs and international partners
For each actor, the diagnostic defines:
- Mandate
- Capabilities
- Program history
- Operational maturity (IMM-P® baseline)
- Linkages to other actors
- Potential role inside VIF
5.2 IMM-P® Capability Assessment
Each institution is assessed across IMM-P® dimensions:
- Governance
- Strategic Alignment
- Leadership & Decision-Making
- Operational Delivery
- Data & Evidence Practices
- Service & Program Maturity
- Learning & Improvement Processes
Outputs include:
- A capability heatmap
- Maturity score (0–5)
- Priority capabilities to strengthen
5.3 Ecosystem Mapping
This identifies:
- Existing incubators and their program structure
- Gaps and overlaps
- Geographic distribution
- Specialization areas
- International linkages
- Policy dependencies
Public Sector → Universities → Private Sector → Investors → Clusters → International Partners
This network mapping helps identify where nodes should be placed and how coordination must occur.
5.4 Sector & Trend Mapping (Vigía Futura)
Vigía Futura provides:
- Weak signals
- Opportunity themes
- Sector prioritization
- Cross-sector interactions
- Futures horizon scanning
- Early risk identification
These inputs help determine:
- Which sectors the incubator network should prioritize
- Which institutions are best positioned to lead them
- Which capabilities must be developed to compete globally
5.5 Gap Analysis
The diagnostic compares current state vs. desired future state, identifying:
- Missing capabilities
- Underdeveloped institutional roles
- Structural constraints
- Funding gaps
- Data limitations
- Policy inconsistencies
Gaps are categorized into:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Structural | Laws, regulations, budget flows |
| Institutional | Capabilities, governance, processes |
| Market | Talent shortages, investment gaps |
| Geographic | Regional imbalances |
| Sectoral | Lack of specialization or research depth |
| Operational | Missing templates, standards, data flows |
5.6 Readiness Scorecard
A national readiness score is calculated using:
- IMM-P® maturity baselines
- Evidence availability (MCF 2.1)
- Foresight alignment (Vigía Futura)
- Network mapping
- Policy and structural constraints
This produces a Red / Yellow / Green readiness assessment for launching the National Public–Private Incubation Network.
6. Diagnostic Interpretation Guide
- Green → Country is ready for full VIF implementation
- Yellow → VIF should begin with pilots and capability-building
- Red → VIF requires foundational work before national rollout
This interpretation helps governments decide:
- Timing
- Resource allocation
- Governance strategy
- Required international support
- Scaling model (centralized vs. decentralized)
7. Diagnostic Constraints
Every diagnostic must acknowledge:
- Limited access to reliable data
- Varying levels of institutional buy-in
- Political cycles and leadership changes
- Geographic disparities
- Budget constraints
- Fragmented or outdated regulations
- Limited adoption of evidence-driven practices
These constraints shape the implementation model.
8. Connection to Section 03 - System Architecture
Section 03 builds directly on this diagnostic by specifying:
- Governance structures (NSC, TOU, IC)
- Incubator node roles
- Operational standards
- Funding mechanisms
- MEL architecture
- Policy learning loops
Without this diagnostic, Section 03 would be theoretical; the diagnostic ensures the architecture is contextually grounded.
9. Reference Snapshot
Primary Doulab frameworks defining this diagnostic:
- 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 global influences on ecosystem and policy diagnostics, see:
- OECD Innovation Governance
- WIPO Global Innovation Index
- OECD Strategic Foresight Toolkit
- World Bank GovTech Maturity Index
Full bibliography available in 11-references.md.
10. 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.