Procurment of International Incubation Programs Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches

Procurement of International Incubation Programs Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches This study by Dr Hanadi Mubarak Al-Mubaraki of Kuwait University concerns the incubation programmes used for the nurturing of nascent businesses, a task which is especially vital in countries requiring economic development. Her work focuses on Kuwait and the nations within the Gulf Cooperation Council, but is more widely applicable. It shows how the Gulf countries can best make use of incubation programmes as a tool for the start-up of new enterprises particularly in the area of new technology. Indeed, her study shows that technology incubators are now the dominant segment of the incubation industry at 40% of the total while mixed-use incubators are only 30%. This was not the case when incubators were first launched in the US some 20 years ago, the author shows. Dr Al-Mubaraki is professionally engaged in the preparation of feasibility studies for projects at Kuwait University, where she formulates all aspects of research and development proposals with the aim of achieving cost efficiency, monitoring and assuring quality. The volume examines the model of incubation programmes adopted by the Gulf countries and looks at how they can be more successful in achieving their goals of technology transfer, fostering commercialisation of R&D, contributing to job creation and economic development. The author traces the origins of the concept of incubation programmes and describes how they have emerged as a global phenomenon today. Her book shows that support for entrepreneurship through business incubators is on the rise in the GCC. In Bahrain, for example, the Bahrain Development Bank and UNIDO have established a business incubator, while in the UAE, Dubai has established the Digital Idea Oasis to foster the development of technology ventures involving the internet, IT and related technologies. Meanwhile, the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia has been investigating the development of business incubators in Dammam while others are looking at developing the concept in Riyadh, the author says. Dr Al-Mubaraki researches the criteria on which international incubation programmes have been founded and provides recommendations for future implementation that can be of use to developing countries in the Gulf and elsewhere. It looks at the various incubation programmes available and suggests those that are best suited to government implementation given the economic and financial conditions of the GCC and other developing countries. The book contains a useful and extensive bibliography covering the latest research papers into incubators. Based on original research, Procurement of International Incubation Programs is a valuable and original contribution to this highly specialist field and will be of use to policy makers and anyone concerned with business development.