i4G S.A. Participation
in the3rd Annual International Conference
on Business Incubation:
“Creating an Innovation Economy through Entrepreneurs and Incubation”,
Chennai, India, 29-31 January 2009.

i4G S.A. participated with and was represented by Dr. Theologos Prokopiou, Managing Director,  in the 3rd Annual International Conference on Business Incubation under the title: “Creating an Innovation Economy through Entrepreneurs and Incubation”, in India.

The conference took place in Chennai, India, over 29th - 31st January, 2009, organised by the Tiruchirappalli Regional Engineering College - Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (TREC-STEP) in cooperation with the Indian Science & Technology Parks and Business Incubation Association (ISBA).

The conference, which is a milestone event and a unique convergence platform for the business incubation community, entrepreneurs, knowledge community, national & international development organizations, funding agencies and policy makers, focused on the Innovation Economy.

Dr. Theologos Prokopiou delivered a presentation during the International Pavilion. It is amazing to see the diversity of incubation initiatives across the world in different country environments. It is even more amazing to understand the wondrous commonalities that exist between incubators across the world, in spite of the differences at the surface level. A great learning process is evolved in order to realize  these differences and unity, which provides valuable insights for a more profound understanding about what we do in our own environment and how to do it more meaningfully and effectively. The incubation world at your door step is a great present for all new incubation managers within their knowledge tool kit.

Dr Prokopiou’s lectured on «International Networks of Private Incubators as a powerful tool for creating global start-ups». There seems to be a consensus that in moments of crisis, despite the difficulties that we all have to face, the role of Technology Incubators is more important and significant than ever as they focus on enhancing the productive economy (start-ups and companies) in the context of the global knowledge economy. Innovative start-ups can provide new solutions for the problems of the environment, energy, nutrition, health that can stimulate the economy, reduce cost and conserve resources.

As evident in all aspects of today’s activities, globalization should influence the creation of start-ups as well. An international network of private incubators, each one of them being a profitable venture, is the ideal green house for the creation of global start-ups. Using the protective environment of the network, it is much easier for the companies to reach the global market, since they have been already exposed to the requirements of various international markets and have also acquired the correct mentality and approach from the very beginning.