(VEN) – At the international workshop on “Technology Business Incubators at Universities and Research Institutes – International Experience and practices in Vietnam” recently held by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), international experts shared their experience in the model.
Technology business incubators act as a bridge to promote economic development
Limited general awareness of technology business incubator model
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam has 47 technology business incubators that have achieved some initial encouraging results including CRC-TOPIC Incubator (22 businesses); High-tech Business Incubator (HBI) (four businesses and 20 supported businesses), Quang Trung Software Business Incubator (SBI) (10 businesses), and Hoa Lac High-tech Business Incubator (25 businesses). These incubators have been focused on a number of key technologies such as information and communication, biotechnology, automation, microelectronics, and new materials.
These incubators have contributed considerably to the development of domestic businesses and the national economy. For example, SBI has recorded increased sales with continually growing revenues from nearly VND350 million in 2008 to more than VND2 billion last year. Some of the key products of SBI-based companies are automotive management software, Smart-SMS, E-branding, and E-learning.
However, the recorded results failed to attract companies to involve in these incubators. According to experts, the current limited perception of the incubator and the importance of technology incubation activities have prevented these centers from development, especially at grass-root levels. In addition, limited ability to connect with investment funds and financial resources, along with the lack of legal and financing frameworks, also posed a major question for these incubators.
Foreign experience in the development of technology business incubators
The workshop brought real stories from Darebin Enterprise Centre, a business incubator in Australia. General Manager of Darebin Enterprise Centre Bob Waite said “Australia currently has 45 business incubators and most of them are effectively operating. These business incubators have supported businesses in the sectors of technology, services, lighting industry, and information technology. 75 percent of the supported businesses continued to operate after 3-year incubation period and vastly influenced the local economic development.”
Vietnam can also study and develop Darabin-like models, i.e. the State only supports the initial investments such as land assignment and basic infrastructure for the incubators.
Israeli business incubators have been famous for creating favorable start-up conditions for science and technology businesses. According to Head of the Commercial and Business Affairs Office of the Embassy of Israel to Vietnam in Hanoi Zafrir Asaf, the Israeli Government determined to accept a risk-sharing mechanism when supporting science and technology business incubators for the invention of new technology and helping turn ideas into start-up businesses. It will continue support incubated businesses until they receive the first round of investment from private investors.
According to Zafrir Asaf, the Israeli overnment extends about US$50 million to these businesses incubators. Israeli businesses incubators provide financial support, administrative services, orientation consultancy and strategy construction, and technology commercialization. These incubators also provide businesses start-up experience as well as working discipline.
According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung, business incubation models introduced at the workshop proved useful for Vietnamese managers in developing technology incubators. The construction and development of business incubators in Vietnam act a key role in linking scientific researches with production and business operations, helping accelerate the transfer of research results while substantially contributing to the industrialization and modernization of the country./.
By Duy Anh
Đăng ký: VietNam News
