Business Incubators, Innovation Centres 
& Science Parks

References

In order to become or remain competitive a region can not afford to leave the potential for commercialising business ideas, patents and intellectual properties untapped. Business incubators promote the creation of new enterprises and they can reduce the failure rate amongst start-ups considerably. They are seen as efficient tools for technology transfer and cooperation, and are generally targeted towards addressing local economic development issues through improvement of the entrepreneurial base. Incubators, innovation centres are often the nucleus for a wider development which may result in the set-up of science or technology parks once the fledgeling entrepreneurs leave the incubators.

Competence of EXPEPRLAN: 
Long-standing experience in all phases of the set-up of business incubators, innovation centres and science/ technology parks, ranging from: 

• Preliminary phase: Preparational works where the support for a project needs to be ensured

• Development / Planning phase: Investigating the feasibility, and elaboration of a business plan to develop a viable financial concept

• Implementation phase: Here, it is important to have good management team, to have set mechanisms for identifying and selecting tenants, and to offer tailor-made services to customers

• Helps to build capacities in these issues through a training programme which can be offered to staff of incubators, innovation centres or science/ technology parks

Development and Innovation Strategies

References

At regional level, strategies have become a major policy tool to promote the innovation system. The European Commission is among the main supporters in favour of these strategies, and provides funding for regions who go all the way of developing their own strategy. Co-financing is provided under the European Structural Funds as well as the Framework Programme for Research. But also generally speaking, it is very much advisable for regions to have a strategy, to communicate it clearly, and to implement it credibly. 

Competence of EXPERPLAN: 

• Provides support at all stages of a developmental process

• Acts as a moderator in the elaboration phase

• Provides insights from good practices

• Helps to identify and realise pilot actions which shall prove the strategy's viability and help to invest resources efficiently

• Seeks for funding

SMEs, Clusters and Networks

References

In most economies SMEs make up the largest part of companies. Particularly, the small enterprises are perceived as main agents of job and wealth creation, but their size is also a competitive strain for them. Thus, being part of a cluster or network structure can help to reap synergies. Much of the future success of a local economy is tied up in business clusters or co-operative networks.

Competence of EXPERPLAN:

• Helps to perform this catalytic role by providing counselling on how to promote clusters and networks by considering the needs and requirements of SMEs, appropriately. 

• Runs also cluster and network analyses, when assessing e.g. scenarios for future strategies or innovation projects such as business incubators 

• Provides trainings to SMEs on issues like business planning, financing, fund raising and marketing