Incubators Portal Blog

Hi my dear readers and colleagues, It has been a month ago since I was writing on this wall. If I start to make excuses than you will just “switch the channel” . So what to say, working in incubator is just like having a baby, every day is different and you are very exiting when the child makes first step, has a first school play, has a first date and than gets a child, but when you turn around years are passed and you are more experienced but older. Our companies and our incubators are our babies, they come and you as incubator professional follow them on their road to success, you are very exited when they sign first contract or have the first press conference, but in the same time worried when your financial resources are cut, you never tell them your problems but you are always ready to listen theirs. So this is a reason why I didn’t started this post with how it all began because it was long time ago, I am older and experienced ☺. I decided to tell you more about conference that my colleague and me attended last week in Belgrade, together with incubator professionals from Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Monte Negro, Macedonia, us form Bosnia and Herzegovina and our host Serbia. For two days we have talked about incubation in our countries and how incubators/technology parks are tool for regional development. Are they? We think so, but I noticed that while all participants presented they challenges that we have the same thing in common – our countries do not have strategies, plans and understanding regarding business incubators/technology parks or innovative systems. I am not talking about strategy as a document (they probably have it in some drawer) I am taking about institutional long and short-term strategy on state level that is in the phase of implementation in coordination with all of us working in this field. So I wonder what is harder to convince Ministers or Local Authorities that we are engine that can develop a region, new industry, create jobs and reduce the brain drain, or to recognize real entrepreneur and help him/her/ them in the business world and in this chaotic market that exists in countries in the region. Working in a country with low entrepreneurial culture, without innovative system and support, taught me that every day when I come to office it is sure that I can expect everything but not a boring and quiet day. Stay healthy and happy and see you soon, Best Vedrana