Ini-Cubator
Ini-Cubator is a for-profit, networked, Athens-based high tech incubator. Its vision is to boost entrepreneurship in Greece and to support Greek and foreign scientists in establishing their own high technology companies. For the efficient incubation of such companies and support for entering major international markets, it is essential to have direct access to technological, financial and human-resources know-how.
This is accomplished through the participation of the International Institutional Network of Computer Graphics (INI-GraphicsNet) who is the majority shareholder in Ini-Cubator.
Ini-Cubator therefore is in the position to offer:
- access to state-of the art technologies
- access to sales channels and especially to other spin-offs and/or industrial partners of the INI-GraphicsNet Partnership Network
- know-how and track record in the commercial exploitation of R&D results, IPR, validation and patenting know-how
- training for scientists to become entrepreneurs
- international organised networking
- funds
- information dissemination.
In Greece some institutions have been founded to cater the needs generally desribed as bringing technology into the market. So far in Greece new technology companies have been supported either by VCs, incubators or technology parks.
Venture capital activity in the early stage technology financing is practically none existent in Greece. In contrast to VCs and incubators, technology parks do not actively participate in the development of start-ups, and do not have equity stakes; most of them only offer space and infrastructure. Recently some companies announced incubation activities, namely, i-VEN (the incubator of the National Bank), i-Cube and eGenious (combining IT services and incubation) and finally Euroconsultants a consulting company mainly active in structural fund planning and management.
Excluding i-VEN that has direct access to funds, the rest of the identified players have limited direct access to sources of funds and also to state-of-the-art technologies.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Over the last decades Greece has made significant improvements in research and technological development. Today Greece is in a "catching up" phase compares with the more developed EU member states, showing strong overall trends in improving research and innovation.
The gross expenditure in R&D has been rising steadily from 0,20% of GDP in the early 1980s to 0,68% in the late 1990s. the number of people employed in the area of R&D has also increased dramatically by as much as 80% during the same period.
Furthermore and due to the new economic trends imposed to the country by the globalised character of the world economy, there has been an encouraging change in the business culture since newcomers seek to gain their competitive advantage through differentiation and innovation rather than relying on cheap products and low-cost production.
EDUCATION
The educational structure of the Greek labour force has improved impressively over the last years. During the last decade the number of students that entered Greek and foreign universities doubled.
Traditionally Greeks have placed education high on their list of priorities. Education has long been recognized as the most valuable asset a person can have to advance and Greeks are eager to invest in educating their kids. In fact Greece sends more students abroad to study per capita, than any other country in the world. Right now there are roughly 195,000 students enrolled in post-secondary educational institutions in Greece and of these around 26,000 are in masters or doctoral programmes.
FAIRS & CONGRESSES in the region
- Thessaloniki International Trade Fair www.tif.gr
SERVICES
The most important service currently offered by Ini-Cubator is the Qualification Programme and also because it is a member of a well established network, the opportunities for opening new sales channels abroad, as well as accessing various investors (venture capitals, business angels etc).
The Qualification Programme is a programme focusing on the training of the entrepreneurs and will be one of the main services offered by Ini-Cubator to EON members.
LINKS TO MOST IMOPTANT WEBSITES OF THE REGION
- www.mnec.gr (Ministry Of Economics and Finance)
- www.ypan.gr (Ministry of Development)
- www.gsrt.gr (General Secretariat of Research and Technology)
- www.statistics.gr (General Secretariat of National Statistical Service of Greece)
- www.ase.gr (Athens Stock Exchange)
- www.hepo.gr (Hellenic Export Promotion Centre)
- www.sesma.gr (Hellenic Association of Management Consulting Firms)
- www.grnet.gr (Hellenic Research and Technology Network)
- www.hirc.gr (Hellenic Innovation Relay Centre)
- www.techpath.gr (Thessaloniki Technology Park)
- www.stepc.gr (Science and Technology Park Crete)
- www.psp.org.gr (Patras Science Park)
- www.ltp.ntua.gr (Lavrio Science Park)
- www.acci.gr (Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
- www.oe-e.gr (Economic Chamber of Greece)