This research aims to understand what development is needed in the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) sector to strengthen the operations policy arguments supported by a reference model borrowed from the European Collaborative networked Organizations LEADership project. The adequacy of existing IT support to the social network to create a Virtual Organisation (VO) Breeding Environment (VBE) is also assessed by a qualitative exploratory case study addressing the EPAM (Entrepreneurship-in-MAP project) IT-platform. Data were collected from the EPAM website and multiple secondary sources. Contributions to practice include setting critical success factors, discussing management roles and checking the IT-platform state-of-the-art to set up the MAP-VBE in EPAMs scope. While introducing the neutral mediator role constitutes a contribution to the theory, innovative insights into MAP structuring would promote Operations Management research on VO incubation/formation in nascent/emerging contexts of an experimental/entrepreneurial nature. Failure to establish trust among VBE participants is the most feared limitation.

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Collaborative networks,Virtual organisations,VO source networks,VO breeding environments,Medicinal plants,Aromatic plants,MAP,Incubators,Case study,Entrepreneurship,Critical success factors,CSFs,Management roles,Operations management,Emerging industries

• Ciências da Computação e da Informação - Ciências Naturais
• Engenharia Civil - Engenharia e Tecnologia
• Engenharia Eletrotécnica, Eletrónica e Informática - Engenharia e Tecnologia
• Engenharia Mecânica - Engenharia e Tecnologia
• Engenharia Química - Engenharia e Tecnologia
• Economia e Gestão - Ciências Sociais