Kreo tn2 Karlsruhe, Rhône Alpes, Emilia-Romagna and Oxfordshire Thematic Network for the Support of Innovative Companies

6.3Structures from Emilia-Romagna

In Emilia-Romagna, four very different initiatives have been selected: (1) AlmaCube - a university business incubator, (2) I TECH-OFF - an incubator for the ICT sector, (3) SIPRO incubators - a network of traditional business incubators and (4) SPINNER - an “ante-creation” programme supporting business project holders similar in some senses to that of the French incubator models (see above).

6.3.1AlmaCube

AlmaCube is the non-for-profit incubator founded in 2001 by the University of Bologna. The business incubator was jointly created with the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna (Bank Foundation), dedicated to the promotion of local economic development, and the Alma Mater Foundation, set by the University of Bologna to favour local socioeconomic development. AlmaCube’s mission is to promote and sustain entrepreneurship within the local university system with the aim of exploiting all the fields of excellences present in the University of Bologna.

A fundamental element of the success of AlmaCube is the direct link to local economic and political institutions. The incubator has developed collaboration agreements with other institutes dealing with enterprise creation - e.g. Progettando (business plan contest set by the Province of Bologna) Mambo (programme developed by the Municipality of Bologna supporting new enterprise in selected sectors and localized in particular areas of the city), Spinner (see below for details) - as well as with entrepreneurial associations, venture capitalists and banks. The incubator is strictly linked to another initiative of the University of Bologna - the StartCup business plan competition – to which AlmaCube intends to guarantee continuity. Some of the winners of the 2001 competition are indeed currently hosted within the AlmaCube incubator.

Over the period 2001-2004, AlmaCube has hosted 14 new start-ups involving more than 50 people (with an average age of 25/26 years ). The global turnover of the hosted companies is about 700.000 Euro in 2002.

6.3.1.1Main origin of funds

Financing are of a mixed origin. AlmaCube is hosted within University premises. Initial investment was financed with public funds (50%) and from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna (50%). As regards management funds, 60% of those are covered by tenants’ fees and 40% are covered by public funding (on a projects basis) and by sponsorships.

6.3.1.2Target enterprises

AlmaCube has no sectorial focus. Its targets are innovative project ideas or start-ups. The preference is given to projects developed within the University of Bologna or by individuals linked to this institution. However, projects coming from any research centre, higher education institutions or young entrepreneurs are welcome as well, in order to promote diversity and favour complementarity among the incubated start-ups.

6.3.1.3Links with research

AlmaCube is tightly linked to the University of Bologna. The creation of this incubator was promoted by the University and AlmaCube is located at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Bologna. As regards beneficiaries, the priority is given to new enterprises or projects developed by individuals linked to the University of Bologna (students, graduates, researchers and professors, technical personnel, etc.), but access from other beneficiaries is also possible.

6.3.1.4Project development

AlmaCube supports new companies. The selection is made on the basis of a business plan and the submission of the statute of incorporation⁸. For three years, the selected companies benefit of premises, assistance on sales and marketing and networking opportunities. The incubator cannot host any production related activity or, more generally, the expansion of the business.

6.3.2I TECH-OFF

I TECH-OFF (Information TECHnology spin-OFF) is a business incubator dedicated to information and communication technology (ICT) and the multimedia sector. It operates within Emilia-Romagna region and is managed by a Consortium that groups the University of Bologna, the Alma Mater Foudation and ASTER. The Consortium carries on its activities autonomously or in co-operation with other regional actors active in entrepreneurship development and support.

I TECH-OFF incubator has been created with three main objectives. First, it aims at reinforcing the ICT and multimedia sector in Emilia-Romagna; second, it aims at increasing entrepreneurial skills among different actors such as researchers, students, unemployed people, operating in ICT; third, it is meant to be a tool for ICT enterprise creation and support through the provision of targeted services both on technological and business aspects.

An efficient and innovative support path has been developed starting from the formulation of the business idea up to the “business autonomy jump”.

Three different phases have indeed been defined, namely pre-incubation, incubation and post incubation. Documents to produce, selection criteria and services are different for each phase.

Here below, a scheme presenting this innovative path:

The first selection for projects and new companies to access “pre-incubation” services will be in April 2005.

6.3.2.1Main origin of funds

I TECH-OFF has been financed by the Italian Ministry of Industry (Ministero delle Attività Produttive) for a three years period (2004-2007). A small contribution will be asked to beneficiaries in the “incubation” phase.

6.3.2.2Target enterprises

TECH-OFF is a business incubator that provides facilities, services and support to new entrepreneurs in the ICT and multimedia sectors. In addition to direct support to new companies and project holders, I TECH-OFF carries out a wide range of activities aiming at the reinforcement of the ICT and multimedia sector in Emilia-Romagna.

6.3.2.3Links with research

I TECH OFF mission includes the creation of a favourable environment to “valorise” and make market use of the research results produced within the regional universities and research centres in the field of ICT and multimedia.

The participation of the University of Bologna in the consortium constitute a strong link between the regional research environment and the incubator.

Links with research represent one of the selection criteria set by the I TECH-OFF consortium, even if it is not a pre-requisite.

6.3.2.4 Project development

I TECH OFF supports the beneficiaries in all phases of their business development, from the formulation of the business idea up to the “business autonomy jump”, providing facilities (i.e. fully equipped offices, hardware and software tools, etc.), training and professional services.

I TECH OFF offers three different support packages according to the specific stage of project development: pre-incubation, incubation and post incubation. According to the level of development of the business and the support package awarded to it, services range from consultancy on technological, economic, financial and legal issues; assistance in fund raising and accessing research facilities; support to team building, from partners search to personnel and research competencies recruiting; networking.

As a whole, support will be provided over a 2 years duration (3 months in pre-incubation, 18 months in incubation, 3 months in post-incubation).

6.3.3SIPRO Network of Incubators

SIPRO is the Development Agency of Ferrara Province. Between 1999 and 2001, for territorial development reasons, SIPRO set up a network of 4 business incubators, located in different areas of the province: Ferrara, Ro Ferrarese, Ostellato and Copparo.

SIPRO’s business incubators network helps SMEs in their starting-up phase, both offering facilities, consultancy and economic support. In particular, it aims at solving the problems connected to the initial settlement of start-ups and at favouring the creation of research centres’ & university’s spin-offs.

The incubators provide fully equipped spaces at convenient prices, as well as specific support services. In particular, they offer support in establishing relations with local administrations and provide consultancy on administrative issues related to starting-up a company, business planning, marketing, administrative and financial management. In this framework, SIPRO also offers advice and acts as guarantee for financial contributions to new enterprises hosted by the incubators, which often consist in grants of the European Regional Development Fund, being Ferrara an Objective 2 area.

In 2 years of activity, SIPRO’s Incubators have supported the settlement of 22 new enterprises specialized in innovative sectors, employing about 60 people (half of them are women).

6.3.3.1Main origin of funds

The incubators’ network has been financed by several local, national and European Institutions.

Premises were built upon a grant of the European Regional Development Fund awarded through the Emilia Romagna POR (Regional Operational Plan) for Objective 2 areas. Three local municipalities (Copparo, Ro, Ferrara) also contributed financially, while SIPRO itself provided in kind contribution with management and human resources.

The operative phase of activation of the incubators was supported by European and national funds- provided through the Ministry of Economy on the budget of the programme EQUAL and Interreg IIIc – as well as through a direct contribution from tenants companies.

6.3.3.2Target enterprises

None of SIPRO incubators has a sectoral focus. They support innovative companies registered in the province of Ferrara.

6.3.3.3Links with research

The incubators have been set upon the initiative of the Ferrara province development agency, which has as shareholders local institutions (all the 26 Municipalities of the province of Ferrara and the Provincial Authority of Ferrara), the Chamber of Commerce, several banks (Cassa di Risparmio of Ferrara, Cassa di Risparmio di Cento, Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta) and ERVET – the Emilia-Romagna Regional Development Board.

No research institution is directly involved in the initiative. However, SIPRO signed a protocol with the Spin off centre of the University of Ferrara in order to support he University research activity to converge into entrepreneurial activities. The incubators also function as interface between University and enterprises to favour students’ training as interns. Moreover, SIPRO established tide relationships with the Spinner programme (see below) in order to provide support to the new businesses in innovative sectors.

6.3.3.4Project development

SIPRO supports companies in their early-stage, helping them in the setting-up phase, initial grow and stabilization, with the objective to enable new businesses to become self-sustainable.

The incubators target new companies with maximum 2 ½ years of life and managed by young entrepreneurs (up to 35 year old) and being Academic or enterprise spin offs.

Incubators offer to selected projects both support to business plan adjustment and legal accomplishments. In the following stage, the incubators support enterprises in developing common marketing tools. In addition, incubators offer to new business a check-up scheme to monitor their progress and adjust according to the assessments.

Support is provided for a maximum duration of three years.

6.3.4Spinner

The Spinner Consortium is the winner of the call for bids the Emilia-Romagna region launched for selecting an Intermediary Organism to manage a European Social Fund – Objective 3 Global Grant. Spinner aims at (1) the development and strengthening of entrepreneurship (Measure D3) and (2) the improvement of human resources in the research and technological development sectors (Measure D4). The Spinner Consortium has been set in 2001 by ASTER s.cons.p.a., Fondazione Alma Mater (Foundation of the University of Bologna) and Sviluppo Italia (National Agency entrusted to support the Italian economic development).

SPINNER main action – innovative entrepreneurship, research and development and technology transfer - aims at developing technology transfer processes between universities and research centers and regional businesses, and at favoring the setting-up of high tech enterprises.

Support and finance is provided to individuals for the development of:

• 
  business ideas with a high technology content,
  
• 
  innovative business ideas aimed at applying a consolidated know-how to the economic activity,
  
• 
  industrial research and pre-competitive development projects,
  
• 
  technology transfer plans set by university laboratories or research centres towards local industry or public administration.
  

As regards business ideas projects, Spinner provides:

• 
  Financing:
  

• 
  Individual fellowships to unemployed individuals developing a business idea,
  
• 
  Financing for covering costs related to specific events (conferences, seminars, technical/specific costs),
  
• 
  Financing for purchasing specific services.
  

• 
  Services:
  

• 
  Advanced training
  
• 
  Tutorship for enterprise creation and technology transfer projects
  
• 
  Assistance to business planning
  
• 
  Legal consultancy
  
• 
  Fund raising
  
• 
  Assistance for patenting
  

Assistance is mainly supplied by the network of 7 SPINNER Points that has been set within regional universities, research centres and technology parks. This organizational approach has widely contributed to Spinner’s success. The Spinner Points play a major role in the identification of projects, support in application writing, follow-up of projects and development of relations with the key players in research and technology transfer areas.

From May 2001, 324 individual applications regarding business idea projects have been submitted to the various Spinner points, of which 190 have been financed and 47 enterprises have been set.

6.3.4.1Main origin of funds

As previously mentioned, Spinner is funded through a global subvention amounting to 5 Million Euro per year, the origin of the funding being as follows: 45% from the European Social Fund, 44% from National Funds and 11% from Regional Funds. Financing has been provided for five years.

6.3.4.2Target enterprises

Spinner has no sector focus. It is dedicated to business ideas - and technology transfer projects -with a high innovation content, presented on a call for proposals basis by undergraduate and postgraduate students, new graduates, university researchers, professors and research laboratory technicians, all of them based in Emilia-Romagna.

6.3.4.3Links with research

Links with research are high: Spinner Points are based at university, research and science parks premises. Projects linked to research activity or competences developed in public research structures present in Emilia-Romagna are the main target. In addition, a support letter from a research institution is requested to be attached to the application.

6.3.4.4Project development

Spinner is dedicated to individuals with a business idea they intend to study the viability of. They provide support for a 12 months period which can be extended to an additional 6 months to enable the new company to access further feasibility studies.