Analysis grid for quality of good practices Identification of Practice: University Technology Incubator InQb (SLOVAKIA) Following the presentation/demonstration of the practice, check their quality standard against the criteria listed below; give a score from 1 to 4 (1 for a low or unsatisfactory standard, and 4 for very high or very good standard). If you consider you have no element to appraise a criteria, please tick non ratable. Criteria Weight Quality criteria 1 2 3 4 To what extent the activities appear to be coherent with the objectives to be achieved by the practice X To what extent the practice responds to identified needs x To what extent the practice improves the skills needs identification and the skills matching in the digital and/or in the green economy involving and/or for the benefit of small and medium enterprises To what extent the practice integrates new elements of intervention to achieve an improvement in the skills needs identification and/or in the skills matching in the digital and/or in the green economy involving and/or for the benefit of small and medium enterprises To what extent the practice contributes progressive tools, x x x Non ratable Evidence/justification (Identify the elements of proof or evidence that substantiate the presence of each criteria) The activities responding to the main goals of the Digital Europe initiative (Harmonizing EU Single Market), to the needs and challenges of the permanently changing national labor market, with the calls and involvement of the young starters, micro entrepreneurs and university students. The InQB established the necessary physical and working infrastructure, business, legal and administrative support to help the young entrepreneurs into their business start-up activities The business incubator environment is completed by the necessary digital environment (access to emails, web, eServices) From the BP description is not clear how the business incubation offering a right environment for the new types of eJobs, using another elements of the digital economy, like cloud computing or identification of needed skills on the labor market Is not easy to understand from the BP template, without facilities, technologies or processes to the field of skills needs identification and skills matching in the digital and/or in the green economy involving and/or for the benefit of small and medium enterprises To what extent the practice is led and supported by stakeholders partnership who strive towards the pursued goals and are committed to the success of the practice x To what extent the practice enjoys the collaboration of various administrations and government bodies and/or business associations/organisations and/or chambers of commerce that afford their support to the project To what extent the practice leads to lasting changes in the way of working and strategic planning in the long term x To what extent the practice involves a wide range of actors and stakeholders that help sustain the project financially To what extent resources are/can be made (cross out that which does not apply) available for continuation of the practice. x x x having personal feelings and impression from the site, what are the used new types of tools in order to offer the necessary individual coaching/counseling/ guidance for the proposed processes and workflow for the starter MSMEs. The necessary support from the European and national (mainly university) stakeholders giving guarantee for the good start and ensure the necessary working and human environment. In that sense, this type of classical business incubator is able to fulfill his initial mission and goals by the necessary supports from the various organizations. The filled BP template doesn’t give exact facts and figures for the long term based strategic planning : how this type of incubation can be sustainable, how many start-ups using the incubator facilities monthly, yearly for long term, How many are satisfied with the eServices and mentors for business plans, legal advises… etc.. Some incubators has started by the brilliant way in Hungary by the financial support of the Flemish government around 2000-2004.. Then each closed their doors, because it was not planned relevant Bussines models and Financial Plans. They lost their attractiveness.From the Slovak BP this detail is not clear. It would be important to see the overall portfolio, like legal and business plan development, HR and entrepreneurial skills development. In that moment all the potentials are at place. The practice or elements therein were/can be (cross out that which does not apply) adopted by actors located in similar areas x To what extent are the products/services/activities capable of being applied/used in different context x To what extent are the products/services/activities capable of being applied/used with diverse target groups x To what extent the practice or elements therein were/can be (cross out that which does not apply) adopted by other stakeholders x To what extent do you feel free to adapt and use the products and/or adapt services/activities material in a different order/way to suit your own needs x To what extent the practice has an inherent European scope (such as stakeholders partnership serving Europe). To what extent benefits have been produced from cross-border cooperation (such as a network of complimentary training centers, smes, pes in different countries). To what extent the practice or elements therein demonstrate(d) and/or promote(d) innovative schemes with European relevance - where the demonstration itself x x x The starters/gazelles have lack of capitals to rent offices and pay the high communication fees. This types of incubators are necessary to taken, mainly to extend the services to the university students and their start-ups or spin-off companies. The necessary business and human infrastructure is on place. Is not so hard and biug investment to develop some special services, like : training of new types of eJobs, Green IT, jobs, to create a network of the “leased employees “, which is a popular form in WesternEurope. No limit and differentiation between the public or private sector, or micro and SMEs. This type of incubation can be replicated easily. To establish the necessary physical infrastructure is costly. An one.time investment is needed and it is not sure than a simple NGO of SMEs is able to realize it. This incubator is in winning position right now. I would like to see the full portfolio of the incubator and propose them some activity extensions, in order to ensure the long term sustainability and my own needs on the base of this great potential This view and strategy is not clear from the BP description. It seems now that the only stakeholder is the University. They have international projects with European partners, which offer new experiences to the management. The existing infrastructure is ideal right now to go ahead but it is really recommended to enlarge the relevant portfolio better into the direction of the might take place locally To what extent the practice’s progressive and/or established ideas may be applied to parallel or similar situations in the same or different regions x To what extent he practice acts as a source of inspiration for new projects x innovative schemes in the today`s M-SMEs entrepreneurship. In Central Europe, this schema is right now standard and progressive, and it may be applied by the basic conditions ( infrastructure and financial supports) The facilities offering ideal sites for further projects and pilots. Score: 75/80 Practice’s Strong Points The business incubators are for today unique “starting” points for starters and gazelles. Please check the standard services based on the list of services below. Most common incubator services: Help with business basics YES Networking activities YES Marketing assistance YES High-speed Internet access YES Help with accounting/financial management YES Access to bank loans, loan funds and guarantee programs TBC Help with presentation skills TBC Links to higher education resources YES Links to strategic partners YES Access to angel investors or venture capital TBC Comprehensive business training programs YES Advisory boards and mentors YES Management team identification TBC Help with business etiquette TBC Technology commercialization assistance TBC Help with regulatory compliance YES Intellectual property management TBC Practice’s Weaknesses From the BP template, for me is missing: - Evaluation methodology of the business assistance and satisfaction analysis - Digital and green economy concept - Training for eJobs or new types of Jobs - Long term business and financial concept - Sustainability or long term based financial aspects (auto-financed model) Where is “TBC”, I don’t know or get answer. Suggested Improvements and Recommendations (content quality, degree of innovation, transferability, etc.) The business incubation is mandatory for the national economies. Please check my list above and give answer to the List of “weaknesses”. Conclusions regarding validation, transfer and incorporation of the practice In this BP there is high potential and impact , the model is replicable, innovative , with permanent improvements. Analysed from the perspective of: □ Peer Name and surname: X External expert Name and surname: Tunde Kallai Place and date 05/09/2014, Rotkreuz