incubator

An incubator is a device or facility designed to provide controlled environmental conditions to support growth, development, or maturation of biological samples, eggs, or newborns. The term is also used for programs and spaces that nurture early-stage projects, startups, or organizations through structured support and resources.

Laboratory incubators maintain stabilized temperature and humidity and may regulate other parameters such as carbon dioxide or oxygen levels. They are used for cell culture, microbiology, and tissue engineering to promote growth of cells, bacteria, or other specimens under controlled conditions.

Hospital neonatal incubators are enclosed, thermally regulated cribs used to care for premature or ill newborns. They help maintain stable body temperature, provide environmental protection, and can regulate humidity and sometimes oxygen to support respiratory and metabolic needs.

Egg incubators are devices that hatch eggs by keeping a consistent temperature and humidity and by rotating or tilting the eggs to simulate natural incubation.

Startup incubators or business incubators are programs or facilities that support early-stage companies through workspace, mentorship, access to networks, and sometimes seed funding. They aim to increase the likelihood of successful product development and company growth, often within a finite program period.