Business Incubators

If you followed my last blog from L'Aquila Italy where I assisted the Universita' degli Studi dell'Aquila establish business disaster recovery programs after the earthquake of April 2009, you will remember that I also worked with the university in establishing a business incubator program for their spinoff companies. Since my return to Louisiana, I have sent them information and documentation to establish a business incubator for bio-tech companies with Dompe' Pharma in L'Aquila. I have also be in conversation with a group interested in establishing a rural / food-Agri incubator in Sicily. Over the last 22 years, I have developed an extensive track record for business incubation feasibility, development, operations and management. In the recent National Business Incubation Association's publication, Best Practices in Action - Guidelines for Implementing First-class Business Incubation Programs - Revised 2nd Edition, the Louisiana Business & Technology Center, under my direction was selected for 10 Best Practices. Over those 22 years in the business incubation profession, I have spoken at over 40 conferences on business incubators and research parks and have completed consulting projects for business incubators in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Maine, Italy and Mexico. Future post will discuss the best practices for successful business incubators.