The document discusses different models for supporting startups and technology transfer, including incubators, clusters, and technoparks. It notes there is variety in the forms support can take, such as technology transfer units in universities or venture capital funding. Experience shows the importance of triggering new economic sources of employment and having programs dedicated to small and medium enterprises. When comparing experiences, most differences are due to policy and industrial factors rather than cultural aspects. The two main differences discussed are whether companies are incubated together under a shared roof or emerge from existing geographical proximity, and whether clustering is created from scratch or builds upon pre-existing localization.

1. Session 2: Start-ups, incubators and technology transfer: lessons learned from previous experiences Rigas ARVANITIS , IRD

2. A general move Incubators, clusters, technoparks, networks… A general move from the in close relationship with the following phenomena growth of ICTs and new technologies importance of new "extension" activities of universities Tech transfer between research and production Regional industrial policies and decentralization

3. Variety of forms Technoparks and technopoles Technology transfer units in universities, engineering schools, Funding start-ups: venture capital, credit schemes Engineering networks Intermediate technical centres Business associations related to innovation and tech dev.

4. Fast growing experiences In most European countries and in the USA: The Silicon Valley sindrome Entrepreneurial universities (as a goal) Large consensus on the need to trigger new economic sources for employment Innovation policy: very much related to large firms Need for specific dedicated programs for SMEs

5. In the developing world Brazil, China, Mexico Very diverse experiences (examples) Smaller countries have emphasized : ICTs Technoparks Larger countries: close relation to industrial policy

6. In the Mediterranean Many experiences in MENA countries Two opposite examples Tunisia Morocco When comparing experiences, differences rather due to policy and industrial background rather than ‘cultural’ aspects

7. At least two differences (1/2° FIRST MAJOR DIFFERENCE Start-ups, companies related to tech transfers from large universities and R&D centres Companies incubated under a common roof, sharing common services (fair, support centre, infrastructure, legal & other services)

8. At least two differences (2/2) SECOND MAJOR DIFFERENCE Pre-existing geographical proximity and industrial localization (‘marshalian district’) ‘ Clustering’ created de novo from scrath (usually as a technopark, university incubator or policy-oriented localized grouping).

9. A management and policy issue ‘ Incubators’ are among other things: A management issue related to innovation and entrepreneurship A policy issue related to the institutional environment Both are different when seen from the eyes of an entreprise or a policy-maker

10. Technological learning of companies Incubators and clusters are related to the capacity of entreprises to adopt, adapt, and develop technologies ‘ technological learning’ rather than innovation should be the main focus ‘ localizing’ competence seems of paramount experience (‘root the experience locally’) Never forget: innovation is not only a local affaire!

11. Thank you !