Role of Incubators

Date & Venue: 20th March 2015 at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram

Dr.ArunaChandrasekaran, Professor, at Indiana State University and an expert on incubation & entrepreneurship shared her valuable experiences of studying and working closely with business incubators from all around the world in the round table the discussion was organized by Technopark TBI, Technopark, and Government of Kerala in collaboration with the Centre For Development Initiatives(CDI). Citing examples from real-life case studies from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, China& the US where she has carried out extensive research Dr.Aruna provided insights into how entrepreneurs can get the best, and occasionally the worst, out of being in an incubator. But, the main focus of the discussion was on the importance of such idea-sharing forums itself; considering the embryonic stage in which India is in comparison to other Asian countries like China. She reminded that incubators all over the world were first born in universities through faculty initiatives. It was stressed that it is important that the linkage between the university, industry, and incubators is strengthened for an incubator-friendly environment to be created in India.