University of Mauritius
Research Week 2007
ICT Business Pre-incubation and Start Ups
Roshan T Ramessur, Ph.D.
University of Mauritius
ramessur@uom.ac.mu
http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/ict_incubator/
Types of business incubators
Incubators are often integrated part of a park
structure.
 Virtual incubator - new type of incubator; other
than the “traditional incubators”, mostly web-based
activity.
 New economy incubator- exclusively driven by
profit interest of venture capital organisations/ bigger
companies.
 Pre-Incubator- often part of regular incubators.
Dissemination of the business incubator concept
Today:
approx. 60 associations (international + national) of business
+ innovation centres or science/ technology parks actively
promote the development of new companies + regional economic
development.
More than 4,000 incubators worldwide.
in Europe:
around 1,200 incubators generating 30.000 gross new
jobs/ year; results being achieved at an average cost per
job to public authorities of around 4.000 € net.
in the US:
•
around 1,000 incubators which assisted more than 35,000
• start-up companies that provided full-time employment for nearly 82,000 workers and
generated annual earnings of more than $7 billion.
in Asian countries:
•
total of 1,152 incubators with 6,177 incubator graduates
(Source: European Commission 2002; newer sources, where available)
Key success factors for Technology
Incubators
Significant regional demand for a TBI
 Broad support from different stakeholders.
 Adequate incubator building.
 Secured long-term financing.
 Clear entry- and exit criteria.
 Actively embedded into a national and
international network.
 High professional, dedicated and qualified long
term staff fromdifferent educational background.
Key Facts and figures for IC-NCB
• IC-NCB started by findings of a UNDP Funded Project
executed by Experplan GmbH in 2003.
• Employment Creation > 90.
• Investment – MUR 18 million.
• 6 start-ups graduated successfully in NCB -Incubator
Centre.
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E-Business for Tourism (December 2003).
Website Development and Maintenance Contract (August 2004).
Software Development (February 2005).
Software Development (PKI) & IT Consultancy (June 2005).
Website Development and Multimedia (June 2005).
Multimedia Educational CD (June 2006).
UoM-NCB Pre-incubation Activities
• EXPERPLAN was contracted by the National Computer Board
and executed the project "Support for new and potential start-up
incubators in the field of information and communication
technology (ICT) in Mauritius" funded by UNDP Mauritius.
Key findings of the project showed:
• - a necessity to extend the services of the NCB – ICT Incubator
Centre to more startups in Mauritius. The University of Mauritius
(UoM) was assessed as one of two most suitable locations for the
extention of the NCB – ICT Incubator Centre.
• - a necessity for establishment of a pre-incubation programme at
the NCB – ICT Incubator Centre.
• - a necessity for strengthening the cooperation between the
Universities in Mauritius and the NCB – ICT Incubator Centre.
Defining Entrepreneurship
• No Common Agreement on what would constitute
a reliable set of indicators on Entrepreneurship.
• Entrepreneurship - Act of identifying and seizing
new business opportunities (OECD, 1998).
Initiative (iBP)
• iBP – a joint initiative of the University of Mauritius
and the National Computer Board (IC-NCB) was
launched by the Minister of ITT on Campus in
October 2006.
• First Batch of Final Year Project students admitted in
2006.
• There are about 25 students working on 12 ICT
related projects prior to start-up activities.
• Supervision from different Departments and Centres.
Aims of iBP
• To promote the culture of entrepreneurship on campus
by providing students and Faculty members with the
necessary knowledge and skills for the launching of
their own businesses in the ICT sector.
• To develop competencies as business leaders.
• To promote the commercialisation of university based
research and development.
Benefits
• iBP provides a common platform and
opportunity for students to work on a
potentially economically viable product or
services in the ICT sector.
• opportunity to start building a network of
business professionals and potential partners.
• Identification of different partners and
business stakeholders.
Infrastructure and Logistics
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FAST Internet Access via ADSL (VPN)
E-mail
Fax and Photocopying Facilities
Common Secretariat
Meeting room
Security
Parking Facilities for Visitors
Facilities offered by iBP
• Logistic support including access to computers
and other communication facilities.
• Preparation of business plan.
• Business counselling and advisory services.
• Training and capacity building programmes.
• Networking with industry.
• Operational support services: Legal,
Accounting, Marketing, Web development,
Technical development and Public Relations.
Process Overview of iBP
Process overview of iBP
1.
Project idea: Students approach the iBP with a project idea
2.
A Project plan is submitted to the iBP by the students.
3.
Evaluation: The iBP Management team assesses the feasibility,
business scope and requirements of the proposal.
4.
Admission to iBP programme: coaching, mentoring and
training.
5.
Execute project: Students work on their projects and in parallel,
work on their business plan.
6.
Dissertation/report/business plan: Depending on the Faculty’s
requirements, students submit their dissertation or report and
the business plan.
7.
Evaluation: Business plan is evaluated by the iBP Management
team.
8.
Students will be prepared to launch their business after
successful completion.
iBP Project Titles
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IT in education
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e-portal services/ e/ mobile –learning.
• A Graphical Linux Router with firewall functionalities.
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E-medicine/IT in telemedicine- Wap applications for clinic.
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Developing an interactive mobile learning (m-learning) platform.
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Mobile computing support for Telemedicine in Mauritius.
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Creating a game based on the Grand Port Naval Battle.
•
A distributed Tourist Information System for Mauritius using JAVA
RMI.
•
Music tutor/Design and implementation of a wireless pan
and tilt mount for camera.
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Development of an Efficient & Fault-Tolerant Distributed Flight
Reservation System.
Marketing
• Participation in ICT Events – InfoTech, seminars
• Networking with other institutions (SME Support,
Associations, Private Investors, etc..)
• Local & International Fairs and Exhibitions.
• Entrepreneurship Development Programmes.
• Media and Press Coverage.
• Website http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/ict_incubator/
Entrepreneurship Development - ICT Sector
Finance
– Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd.
• ICT Loan
• Venture Capital Fund
• Equity Participation Fund
• SME Loan Guarantee Fund
– Empowerment Fund (EM).
– Leasing Facilities.
iBP Centre
• Located on 2nd Floor, Phase II Building, Faculty
of Engineering
iBP Secretariat
University of Mauritius
Tel: 454-1041 ext 1596
Email: ibp@uom.ac.mu