Infrastructure for Enterprise Innovation Hubs

1. Infrastructure for Enterprise Innovation Hubs EIF Experience By Bagrat Yengibaryan

2. Enterprise Incubator Foundation • Non-profit business development and incubation agency • Established in 2002 by the Government of Armenia within the World Bank’s “Enterprise Incubator” Project to support the development of Armenia’s IT industry • Mission is to stimulate economic growth of Armenia by assisting the local IT enterprises in business and skills development areas and stimulating entrepreneurial activity and start-up formation in the country

3. Infrastructure for Innovation Hubs This is an evolving concept that has reached different levels across the world, reflecting the different stages of development. Technological and other change is rapidly transforming the environment in which the Innovation is developed. We should promote it at the national level. To put the potential of knowledge and ICT at the service of development

4. Challenges • Incubator as a Start up • Wide range of Services • Business Services • Skill Development Services • Facility Services • Revenue Generation • Virtual vs. Physical

5. Support Actors – Key Stakeholders • Government • Private Sector • Educational Institutions/Academia • Think Tanks • Research Centers

6. Role of Government • Development of strategy, including the necessary human capacity building • Initiate structured dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders, including through public/private partnerships, and for the exchange of best practices

7. Role of Government • Government should take action, in the framework of national development policies, in order to support an enabling and competitive environment for the necessary investment in Innovation and for the development of new services • Provide funding for joint projects

8. Business Development/ Cluster Development • Cluster promotion (Foreign Offices) • Branding • Business development (software process improvement, CMMI certification) • Capacity development (training labs, curricula development, R&D facilities) • Consultancy (legal, accounting, sales, marketing)

9. Business Development/ Cluster Development • FDI attraction Microsoft Innovation Center SUN Solution Development LAB • Financing mechanisms (Venture Capital) • Start-up creation • Surveys and Publications

10. EIF as Part of Knowledge Infrastructure • R&D Centers • Training Labs • VC Funds • Techno parks

11. Key Results Achieved • Annual sector growth 20%, • Annual workforce growth 30% • 10% growth in start-ups creation • IT industry produces ~ 10% of Armenia’s exports and almost 2% of Armenia’s GDP • Productivity increase 7% • 70% of IT companies using EIF services • FDI attracted (Sun Microsystems, Alcatel, Microsoft, National Instruments, HP) • First VC fund established in Armenia

12. Success Factors • Idea generation • Turning ideas into action • Public-private partnership • Matching interests • Quality services/new perspectives • Networking opportunities • Big picture

13. What is needed? • Political support • Skilled human resources • Dedicated management • Creative culture • Start-up capital • Physical Infrastructure

14. Next Steps • Development of New Strategy and Implementation Plan • Joint actions with Donor Community and Private Sector on Implementation of Projects on exploring ICT and E-development aspects related to knowledge based economy • Establishment of Innovation Centers and Start-up Funds, Industrial Zones, etc

15. Enterprise Incubator Foundation 123 Hovsep Emin st. Phone: (374 10) 219797 Fax: (374 10) 219777 E-mail: info@eif.am www.eif-it.com