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

7.3Structural services

Structural services are a fundamental element of a business support initiative. Structural services are intended as: (1) the provision of space (offices and other types of space), (2) the provision of equipment and technology instruments, as well as of staff managing the incubating structure.

7.3.1Provision of space

7.3.1.1Provision of office units

The provision of independent office units is an important aspect of support supply as it usually allow the new company to obtain premises at reduced costs, and the possibility to make use of common facilities. In addition, a proper location widely contributes to the image of the new company. Here below are available the example of what Innovation Centres and AlmaCube provide to their tenants in terms office and structural facilities.
OXFORD INNOVATION’S INNOVATION CENTRES

Oxford Innovation has set and manages 12 business incubators (Innovation Centres) based over the South East region. Innovation Centres have different characteristics. They have either been designed and built on purpose or they are based in restructured existing buildings. Location differ from on structure to the other: town centre/external locations. Some structures are also close to research organisations as they are located in research or science parks.

Great majority of structures offer the following services or facilities¹⁰:

- Different sizes self-contained office units rented with a flexible monthly licence e.g. Costwold Innovation Centre has 25 office units available with sizes ranging from around 7 up to 85 sq.m (78 up to 914 sq.ft.)

- Meeting and conference rooms

- Main reception area

- On-site car parking

- Broadband Internet Connection

- telephone, fax (Category 5 wiring technology)

- Telephone answering in company name

- Access control

Additional services offered by some innovation centres are:

- hot desking

- on-site nursery

- on-site restaurant/catering

- on-site security

- sef contained laboratory space

- video-conferencing

- business park location
ALMACUBE

AlmaCube offers to young start-ups office units and logistic services (i.e. internet connections, data communication infrastructures, etc.).

AlmaCube is located at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (Bologna University) where it has 700 sq.mt. available both for office units, a meeting and training area, common space (including a “bar area” with coffee machine and furniture) and AlmaCube’s personnel offices.

As regards office units, there are 16 different offices with variable dimensions: 12 offices of 20 sq.mt. and 4 units of 40 sq.mt., all equipped with basic furniture (desks, etc.).

AlmaCube cannot host any production related activity or, more generally, the expansion of the business. The presence in the incubator is initially limited to one year, with a possible extension for another year under the discretional judgement of the Steering Committee.

7.3.1.2Direct provision of other type of space

Apart from dedicated office space, most incubators provide access to meeting rooms as well as to common areas with instruments or facilities (e.g. beverages, fax, photocopy machine).

In addition to that, some structures also give access to laboratories (see details of Diagnox Lab in section ) or warehouses, as it is for instance the case in the incubators set up by SIPRO.

SIPRO

SIPRO incubators represent a good example of structures especially conceived for hosting new small companies working is various types of sectors (manufacturing/services/trade, high-tech/medium to low technology content, etc.).

SIPRO has built four different incubating facilities in four locations over the Ferrara province:

1) an incubator in Copparo - including three buildings: a “Service Centre” for all SIPRO incubators beneficiaries, “High-Tech laboratories” (office units), “industrial laboratories” (industrial units i.e. industrial plants/warehouses) – there is a total of 12 units for hosting SMEs;

2) an incubator in Ferrara - including two buildings with “High-Tech laboratories” and “industrial laboratories” – and 11 units for hosting SMEs;

3) an incubator in Ro Ferrarese - including one building unit with industrial laboratories – with 2 large units for hosting SMEs.

4) an incubator in San Giovanni di Ostellato for industrial companies with 8 manufacturing units of large sizes (300 to 600 sqm).

All hosting facilities have been designed - by a specialised architectural office - and built in industrial areas with following characteristics:

- All units have independent accesses (this ensures the SMEs will full independency) as well as equipped common areas;

- Units are of different dimensions – 35 to 50 sq.mt. for offices and 165 to 300 or even 600 sqm for industrial plants - as well as modular and fully equipped with lighting, internet connection (ADSL) etc.;

- Car parking;

- Night-watchman service;

- Cleaning of premises in common areas;

- Technical utilities (supply of fluids, etc.);

- Electrical maintenance.

The beneficiaries also have access to a “Service Centre” - for participating in training activities, using meeting rooms etc. - equipped with:

- Training hall

- Meeting hall

- Conference rooms

- Technical support desk

Here below, the map of the incubator based in Copparo:

7.3.1.3Identification of space/offices

Some structures do not provide any space directly but can give access to other structures. This is for instance the case of Novacité that has made agreements with several actors present in the Lyon area. In addition, other structures also help incubated companies leaving their structure to identify adequate office units. This is a service that may be provided by I TECH-OFF in the future through networking with several regional actors agreements are being developed with.
NOVACITE

Novacité has developed partnership with seven “pépinières d’entreprises” (business incubating facilities) based in the Lyon area. Those companies that have obtained the “Novacité label” have a privileged access those facilities.

7.3.2Provision of equipment and instruments

Business incubators often provide basic office equipment – as office furniture, fax, telephone, centralised photocopy machines – and in some cases even hardware and software instruments. In the cases of those incubators with a sectorial focus, specific instruments may also be provided. Particularly relevant experiences are those of Diagnox Lab and Colin Sanders Innovation Centre.
DIAGNOX LAB

The "DiagnOx Laboratory" is a unique, managed and equipped, 1000 ft² laboratory and office facility that enables researchers or companies, with potential commercial medical diagnostic products to undertake proof-of-concept work, cost-effectively and in a supportive environment.

The lab is ready for immediate occupation and is equipped with basic laboratory equipment including: balance, temperature controlled incubators, fume hood, laminar flow hood, microplate reader and washer, hotplates and stirrers, RO/deionised water supply, spectrophotometer, pH meter and pipettes.

Beneficiaries are individuals or new businesses in the diagnostic field that “rent” an individual bench and access to laboratory facilities. In addition, beneficiaries have access to Cherwell Innovation Centres facilities including access to internet. “Ben rental” is made on a monthly basis on a flexible, straightforward licence to occupy with one months notice.

Colin Sanders Innovation Centre

This Innovation Centre has specilised in media and entertaining since its creation. A “media centre” - with an equipped TV studio and editing suite - has been created within the incubator Centre. Access is given both to tenants and to external organisations.

The following is available in the equipped studio and editing suite:

- Digital cameras

- Studio viewfinder

- Camera control units

- VHS edit player/recorder

- DVCAM edit player/recorder

- Radio microphones

- Soundcraft Spiritfolio audio mixing desk

- Editing system

- Software including: Macromedia Director, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Final Cut Pro

Plus there is a range of audio visual presentation equipment available, including: Sony data projector, Portable 60" screen, Tektronix Phaser 840 colour printer, Apple & Laptop.

7.3.3Centralised services

Most incubators offer a series of services on a centralised basis. The following could be mentioned:

• 
  Switchboard
  
• 
  IT services
  
• 
  Cleaning
  
• 
  Security
  

7.3.4Advanced shared services

“Advances serviced” are here intended as dedicated personnel to manage the incubator and give support to the tenant companies on the a centralised basis.

7.3.4.1Managing personnel

Having a dedicated managing personnel is particularly important both for giving a day-to-day support to the tenants as well as for solving all structural problems. Examples that may be mentioned are those of AlmaCube, SIPRO and GRAIN.

ALMACUBE

AlmaCubes managing personnel is composed of 2 people: 1 full-time director with education in political sciences and experience in one start up, 1 half-time junior with an economic background.

SIPRO

For managing SIPRO incubators network, there are 2 full-time employees available for the day-to-day management of the relationships with the entrepreneurs. 1 employee is available on a part-time basis for legal advice.

GRAIN

The coaching team of the incubator is composed of 5 people with different backgrounds (business and economics, as well as scientific) and experience in the industry: a director, an assistant director, a project manager, an administration manager and an accountant.

7.3.4.2Support personnel

Dedicated internal personnel may be available for carrying out different types of activities such as:

• 
  Project follow-up and progress monitoring
  
• 
  Marketing and sales support
  
• 
  Business Administration support (accountancy, contracts, invoicing etc.)
  

The provision of the above services are however particularly cost-consuming and in the last two cases could present confidentiality problems.

As regards project follow-up services, a good example is that of Novacité.

NOVACITE

Novacité offers project holders and new enterprises a follow-up service carried out by internal consultants. Follow-up is ensured through a cycle of periodic meetings with an expert and through using a series of instruments developed by the Chamber of Commerce in Lyon as for example:

- A tool for making a pre-diagnosis of the project (Clari-Fi): diagnosis are made on the basis of elements that are often un-clear when a business is starting (technology, products, markets, financing sources etc.). Clari-Fi is based on 4 main elements: (1) project clearness; (2) project appropriateness; (3) project structure; (4) risk management. On the basis of project results for those different elements, the expert and beneficiaries will set priorities and work plan.

- A tool for making forecasts and simulations (Solufi-création) that will enable the potential entrepreneur to define its business model on the basis of forecasted financial results.

- A tool for making a business diagnosis based (Quali-Fi): four main areas are analysed: organisation, results, short term risks, medium term risks.