Conference Explores Innovations in Business Incubation

April 12, 2001

Contact:
Linda Knopp, PR Specialist
(740) 593-4154 lknopp@nbia.org

ATHENS, Ohio—Business and industry leaders from around the world will gather in San Jose, Calif., May 19-22, to explore the latest innovations in the use of business incubators to accelerate economic growth.

Each year, the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) brings together the world's largest gathering of business incubation professionals to share experiences and explore the latest trends in the fields of incubation and entrepreneurship.

The 15th International Conference on Business Incubation will include tours of several area incubators, numerous networking opportunities and nearly 70 informational sessions building on the theme Innovate, Incubate, Accelerate. Sessions will cover all aspects of business incubation from new models to best practices to industry sector specific topics.

Since the first incubator opened in Batavia, N.Y., in 1959, business incubators have been helping entrepreneurs develop successful companies by providing the expertise, networks and tools they need to launch their business.

In recent years, the incubation model has been successfully adapted to meet a variety of needs, from fostering technology development at university innovation centers to increasing employment in economically distressed communities to serving as an investment vehicle.

The San Jose region is home to several successful incubation programs, including the Software Business Cluster, the San Jose Arts Incubator, the International Business Incubator and the Environmental Business Cluster, all of which are located within walking distance of the conference's headquarters at The Fairmont Hotel.

The conference is open to all business incubation program personnel, as well as economic development and business leaders, public policy makers, educators and others who are interested in encouraging business incubation and entrepreneurship.

The Pacific Incubation Network, a regional association of business incubation and economic development professionals, will serve as local host for the event.

For more information about the conference, please contact Linda Knopp, Public Relations Specialist, NBIA, 20 East Circle Dr., #37198, Athens, Ohio 45701, (740) 593-4331, or visit the organization's Web site at www.nbia.org.