Feedback to ECA Workshop September 2007 Presented by: An initiative of Co-sponsored by Leon Lourens
•History, structure & objectives •Components •Sub-regional networks •Tools & resources •Satellite Incubation Presented by: An initiative of Co-sponsored by Leon Lourens
Co-sponsored by The African Incubator Network Initiative of
Regional representatives Softstart Business & Technology I ncubator (SBTI ) – Designated contracting party, grantee and governance responsibility. BusyI nternet (West Africa) Uganda I ndustrial Research I nstitute (East and Central Africa) SA Business & Technology I ncubator Association and SEDA Technology Programme (SA) Solvebrand Ltd – Provider of portal platform technology and virtual incubation development company. Currently working with Commission for Africa and iPrism Global Inc Support from other resources
The Africa sub-regions West Africa East / Central Africa Southern Africa focused lobbying within government, academic and business communities
The road… Oct 2004: African delegates meet for a regional breakout at the African delegates meet for a regional breakout at the Oct 2004: Global Forum for I ncubation in New Delhi… …..WOW Experience!! ..WOW Experience!! Global Forum for I ncubation in New Delhi 2005: Communication between delegates; 100 members; Communication between delegates; 100 members; 2005: survey of needs; attempt to get funding for web site to survey of needs; attempt to get funding for web site to facilitate linkages and sharing… … facilitate linkages and sharing 2005: Kenya/ Uganda/ Senegal/ South Africa meeting in South Africa Kenya/ Uganda/ Senegal/ South Africa meeting in South Africa 2005: Late 2005: infoDev infoDev call for proposals. Called on 3 sub call for proposals. Called on 3 sub- - Late 2005: regional representatives… regional representatives …proposal accepted. proposal accepted. May 2006: First Africa I ncubator and I nnovation Network First Africa I ncubator and I nnovation Network May 2006: meeting!!! meeting!!! Sep 2006: Contract awarded and signed Contract awarded and signed Sep 2006: Nov 2006: Formalise Formalise strategy and action plan to develop strategy and action plan to develop Nov 2006: Africa I ncubator Network Africa I ncubator Network
The road… March 2007: Launch of AI N website and communication Launch of AI N website and communication March 2007: portal in the UK portal in the UK June 2007: Partners strategy meeting is South Africa Partners strategy meeting is South Africa June 2007: June 2007: Overcome problems with banks and receive first payment Overcome problems with banks and receive first payment June 2007: July 2007: Regional workshops in Maputo, Kampala and Regional workshops in Maputo, Kampala and July 2007: Accra. Accra. Oct 2007 Oct 2007 * I ncubator manager training * I ncubator manager training
Key objectives 1. Utilize a web site with a knowledge repository of shared tools and practices. 2. Create awareness of incubation and the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship activity with Governments, stakeholders, education institutions and the finance and private sectors. Advocacy of the network 3. Develop and disseminate promotional material, the activities of network members and country stories (recognize success).
Key objectives 4. Build network to ensure sustainability, possibly developing its own funds. 5. Build capacity for incubator practitioners. 6. Support regional workshops. Each objective has key activities with milestones, target dates, budget and responsibilities
1. Web site & knowledge repository 1.1 Publish web site 1.2 Email to advise all network of website 1.3 Complete registration data sheets online 1.4 Identify other partners in countries 1.5 Share incubator management tools 1.6 Share communication tools 1.7 Provide content 1.8 Sub regional advisory team for website management 1.9 Workshop platform, functional specifications and KMS format with other regions and infoDev
2. Create awareness 2.1 Understand country stakeholders, policy and regulatory environments 2.2 Africa Incubator Day (AID) – identify date + poster + logo + launch etc 2.3 Engage donor community via infoDev for advocacy + funding in each country (donor working group) 2.4 Sub region/regional proposal approaches 2.5 Engage regional economic stakeholder groups (gvt e.g. Comesa; pvt sector (biz councils)
3 . Develop & disseminate promotional material 3.1 Source website inputs on activities 3.2 Newsletter – articles + upcoming activities + events from incubators and incubatees 3.3 Encourage use of media to promote our activities 3.4 Six month review of network activities 3.5 Video case studies to show impact 3.6 Develop brochure that sets out what Africa Network is doing
4. Build network 4.1 Develop draft Memorandum of Understanding 4.2 Pay first year “membership fee” 4.3 Network proposal to donors to ensure sustainability
5. Build capacity 5.1 Source training for incubator professionals. 5.2 Attach training to existing training under grants 5.3 Share on-line training resources (iDISC) 5.4 Internships – arranged individually 5.5 Encourage sub-regional study visits (co-fund) * incubator to incubator * biz school to incubator 5.6 Proposals to donors 5.7 Handbook on good practice 5.8 Buddies listed on portal
6. Support sub regional workshops 6.1 Hold sub-regional workshops id of key people 6.2 Prepare agenda which includes training 6.3 Leverage infoDev support to attract donor/gvt support 6.4 Pan-African Conference & Training
• AIN Incubation tools – WWW – Portal – Alice Street Online Conferencing Centre – Incubator Manager software • Management tool • Incubation tool BBM • Resources – 3 sub-regional facilitators – Project Manager & Co-ordinator – Southern Sub-regional Association with structures – Skype and MS Virtual Earth mapping
African Incubation Network Leon @ SBTI Estelle @ Busy I nternet Ellen & Charles @ Sharing Steve @ UI RI global best Netw orking practice AI N w eb portal Tools Com m unication I ncubator Managem ent Collaboration system around tailored Daniel @ indigenous tools Avnon Virtual Meeting Room David & Sheila @ Solvebrand Alice Street Suite
African Incubation Network Creating viral membership growth Contact dbase Search tools Registration Discussion Grow Forum s Engagement Network Multi- lingual AIN Extranet e-new sletters Docum ents Dissemination Alignment & Feedback Resource Reporting Libraries Agree actions & Form groups Activities Polls, Project Team s benchm arking Anytim e Anyw here
• Links to other regional networks
• Other Regional Networks ASIA InfoDEV ECA MENA Africa LAC
Global Incubation networking Sub Regional Activities Our Secure infoDEV Public Intranet www.idisc.net Incubation resources and shared content AIN registration www.africanincubation.net iDisc access by: � WWW browser Regional Facilitator � Email � Forum MENA ECA LAC Asia AIN Middle East Eastern Latin Asia Sub Sahara & North Europe and America & Africa Africa Central Asia Caribbean � � � � � Network Network Network Network Network reports & reports & reports and reports and reports & News News News News news
African Incubation Network Modular portal tools and community support
African Incubation Network Modular portal tools and community support • The AIN portal provided by Solvebrand is a world-class secure place to communicate with incubatees, incubation managers, supporters, funders, mentors, government and collaborators. • Access to the AIN extranet www.ainportal.org and content is managed through permissioning. • Subsites target the needs of different audiences and geographically dispersed groups and project teams. • Members can visit the Help and Support website and access online user friendly tutorials. • The AIN Portal integrates and runs alongside existing websites and we migrate to agreed best practice toolkits e.g. iDisc , IFC WB SME Toolkit, qlbs.com, Incubation Manager. We add value and do not compete with these – we share best practice and support each other on your behalf.
African Incubation Network Modular portal tools and community support • AIN Members can submit content on portal tools such as News, Acronym Manager, Image Library, Digital media Library, Event Calendar, Project Space, FAQ’s and discussion Forums. • Documents and templates are available via a flexible, easy to use library system. Upload once – download & share many times • AIN members can self-create Project Spaces for unique teams to collaborate on reports, documents, agree objectives and solve issues. • Role-based user groups use hierarchical structures that reflect either incubator business objectives, processes or both. – Multilingual support for sub regional websites. • PC & MAC compatible – IE & Firefox browser friendly
African Incubation Network Modular portal tools and community support
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