The need to stimulate entrepreneurship, new venture creation and small business development in SA has never been greater. The solution to some of the biggest macro economic problems like unemployment and GDP growth lies in developing entrepreneurs and improving the success of start-up companies.
So says Leon Lourens, CEO of the Bodibeng Technology Incubator (BTI), and an expert on entrepreneurial support and incubation.
"Small business is the fuel on which most developed countries run. Entrepreneurs are the foundation on which small business is built. Innovation is the catalyst for entrepreneurial drive. A healthy economy is therefore one with active and abundant entrepreneurs," says Lourens.
Incubators across SA are providing support for entrepreneurs but there is much to learn from international experiences in setting up incubation support at universities.
BTI is responding to the challenge by hosting an event in April to introduce various stakeholders to the needs and the benefits of commercialising technology at universities. The stakeholders involved will be local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), incubators, tertiary education institutes, and private and public sector representatives. Attendees to the event will benefit greatly from the experience of the international guest speakers.
This three-day TESIP Conference 2005, which is themed "Technology commercialisation 2005: University - Incubator linkages", will be held on 13, 14 and 15 April in Johannesburg.
"The team of international guest speakers at this event will be led by the president of the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA) of America, Dinah Adkins," says Lourens.
"The presentations and discussions at this conference are the first step in making technology commercialisation an enormous success in SA. Don`t miss out on the opportunity to share your views and make a contribution while learning from experts who have been successfully commercialising technology for over a decade," he adds.
To find out more about the conference, the guest speakers and the topics, go to www.bti.co.za/tesip.asp.
Alternatively you can contact Craig Aaron, SME and academic manager at BTI, on craig@bti.co.za / (011) 695 4800 / 4815, or Leon Lourens on leon@bti.co.za / +27 (011) 695 4800 / 4810.
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