Consulting Services

The extensive experience of NBIA’s international consulting team members enables the association to bring a variety of quality services to clients around the world. Below is a detailed list of these services.

Research and Analysis: The consulting team conducts primary and secondary research and analysis on specific topics and issues related to incubation, new business formation, capital development, technology transfer and related topics to meet client-specific needs. Activities in this category include data collection, analysis and report preparation on such topics as:

• cluster/sector analysis and strategies.


• incubation industry trends.


• international techniques and best practices in business incubation.


• policy development.

Publishing: The consulting team prepares documents in a variety of formats to suit client needs. Products include:

• white papers.


• workbooks.


• reference documents.

Presentations and Expert Testimony: The consulting team develops and delivers presentations and expert testimony on business incubation and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) economic development activities.

Strategies and Services for Regional and National Incubation Programs: The consulting team develops and implements strategic plans for the creation of new programs to foster incubation at the regional or national level. This work may include the implementation of specific aspects of a program’s development, as well as complete turnkey development. Activities in this category include:

• strategic planning, including the preparation of documents including feasibility studies, program business plans, services and network development plans, and program funding plans.


• program development assistance.


• program implementation assistance.

Strategies for Existing Incubator Programs: The consulting team evaluates existing business incubation programs and creates and implements strategies for the enhancement of existing programs. Services in this area may include:

• developing business and growth plans.


• carrying out program evaluation and benchmarking.


• developing private/public partnerships for economic development.

Incubation Training: The consulting team creates and presents training programs for practitioners, policy makers and developers. Training for practitioners focuses on the practical skills involved in establishing and operating a successful business incubation program. Training for policy makers and developers focuses on the basic concepts of incubation, the role of incubation in economic and community development, and the contributions of incubation on technology innovation and commercialization. Specific training courses and programs can be directed at the following audiences:

• Incubator Developers


• New Managers


• Experienced Managers


• Advisory Boards


• Boards of Directors


• Policy Makers

Services in this area include:

• regional training for incubator managers – from classroom training to on-site coaching to site visits to best practices incubators.


• regional or country-specific training for incubator developers and policy makers involving classroom training, site visits to best practices incubators, and access to a peer network to discuss strategies, successes and challenges.

Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development: The consulting team provides services in the area of new business formation and entrepreneurship. Specific offerings include:

• evaluations of opportunities for and barriers to entrepreneurship.


• evaluations of opportunities for and barriers to entering incubators.


• regional enterprise development planning.


• SME policy development.


• entrepreneurship training.


• entrepreneurship support as a key to global economic competitiveness.

Venture Capital Fund Development and Financing for SMEs: The consulting team creates strategies for the development of venture capital funds for SMEs, investor networks, venture-backed incubation, loan and other debt financing programs, and economic development initiatives with a venture focus.

Linkages and Partnerships: The consulting team develops and deploys partnership strategies within and between regions and countries around the world. Services include:

• forming regional or countrywide incubator networks.


• creating regional partnership development strategies.


• forging strategic partnerships with private corporations.


• developing network linkages to corporations, universities, incubator and other organizations in global technology centers such as Silicon Valley, Boston, Singapore, and other regions.