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An international programme aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through incubation was held at the Technopark here recently.
At least 43 participants representing 32 countries attended the programme, an official spokesman said here.
BEST PRACTICES
The programme served to initiate international networking among incubators in developing countries so that internationally recognised best practices could be adopted in incubating new units.
The delegates were on a study tour to Technopark as part of a larger six-week programme organised by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) from February to March in Ahmedabad.
The programme was sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation/Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme.
The programme also had support from the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and the Asia-Pacific Incubation Network (Apin).
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
The EDII is an autonomous body and not-for-profit institution set up in 1983. It is sponsored by apex financial institutions, namely Industrial Development Bank of India, Industrial Finance Corporation of India, Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India and State Bank of India.
It is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Public Trust Act 1950. The EDII campus stands on 23 acres of land pledged by the Government of Gujarat.
On the other hand, Apin represents a fraternity of leading incubator managers in the region with support from the World Bank's infoDev Program and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Its purpose is to help promote, support and develop quality business incubation in the region, developing management and policy capacities, sharing experiences and complementing the work of the Asian Association of Business Incubators, with whom a formal memorandum of understanding has been signed.
INCUBATOR MANAGERS
The network is owned and driven by incubator managers, giving incubation professionals their own vehicle to learn from each other, undertake practical activities and to advocate on policy and other improvements.
The Chief Executive Officer of Technopark, Mr Mervin Alexander, and Mr M. Vasudevan, Senior Manager-Business Development, interacted with the foreign participants and made a brief presentation about Technopark.
Mr Sreejith, Technical Officer, the Technopark Technology Business Incubator (TBI), familiarised the guests about activities to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
ASSISTANCE OFFERED
Mr K.C. Chandrasekharan Nair, Chief Financial Officer, Technopark, and Secretary and Registrar, Technopark-TBI, offered them assistance in setting up IT parks and technology business incubators in their respective locations.
The guests were drawn from countries such as Bhutan, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Moldova, Egypt, Jordan, Ethiopia, Iran, Lithuania, Singapore, Nepal, Mongolia, Trinidad and Tobago, Philippines, Peru, Panama, Uganda, Zambia, Uzbekistan, Seychelles, Vietnam, Nigeria and Tanzania.
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