Business incubator of KTU Regional Science Park Ramunė Grigonytė KTU Regional Science park 2012.10.12 Lille, France
GOOD PRACTICE INFORMATION Title of PLC or TWG Title of the practice Foster T&C incubation and start-ups Business incubator of KTU Regional Science Park Location of the practice Country Lithuania City Site Kaunas www.ktc.lt Timescale of the practice Start 1998 End (if applicable) ongoing
In September 1997 German Federal Government started the TRANSFORM program project - the establishment of KTU Technology Center (business incubator). The Partner of German consultancy firm GFE in this project was KTU's Innovation Center. The first business incubator in Lithuania was established according to the German model.
19 th March, 1999 The Business Incubator was opened Established in 1998 in Kaunas, KTU Business Incubator (since 2006 KTU Regional Science park) was the first business support programmeof this kind in Lithuania and was the first business incubator in the country.
VŠĮ KTU Regional Business Incubator Established in:11 th June, 1998 VšĮ KTU Regional Science Park Registration date: 11 th December, 2006 Established by: The Ministry of Economy of Republic of Lithuania Kaunas University of Technology Kaunas County Governor's Administration Shareholders; The Ministry of Economy of Republic of Lithuania Kaunas University of Technology
ACTIVITIES OF THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR Supports start-ups only Incubation period is up to 3-5 years Miscellaneous businesses Subsidy/ discount for rent price Tenant companies offices are located in the building of business incubator
SELECTION OF COMPANIES 3 criteria: 1)Young company (operating up to 3years); 2)Conform to a definition of SMEs; 3)Technology-oriented and/or innovative.
CO-OPERATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY Science Parkwas established with an initiative of Innovation Centre of KTU More than 90% employees of client companies are graduates, students and academic staff of the KTU. Companies have access to laboratories of the KTU. Companies regularly consult with experts from the KTU. Science Park has joint projects and organizes joint events with the KTU.
RELEVANCE OF THE GP TO THE TACKLED PLUSTEX POLICY PRIORITY AREA The main mission of the Business Incubator at KTU Regional Science Park is to supportinnovative and technology-oriented small and medium businesses in Kaunasand other regions of Lithuania and to create a favorable business environment for startups.
EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS Achieved results: Total space 3655sq.m. -3100sq.m. office space and 555 sq.m. experimental manufacture. Also a conference hall of 300 sq.m. More than 200companies incubated to date. Currently 66companies. Success rate more than 90%. More than 850new jobs created (end of 2011) More than 56mln. Litas(~ 16mln.) of taxes paid (end of 2011) 10companies received awards and recognition on national and international levels Best Science Based Incubator in Fastest Growth category in 2005
MOST SUCCESSFUL SPIN-OFFS / START-UPS Most successful spin-offs are: UAB MobiliųjųSprendimųCentras(Mobile Solutions Centre Ltd). UAB Edukacines sistemos (Educational systems Ltd). Most successful start-ups are: UAB Net Frequency (Net Frequency Ltd) UAB ES4B (ES4B Ltd) In terms of Textile and Clothing the example of a successful start-up company in Business Incubator is UAB Dar nemama (Not a mother yet Ltd). It was the very first company incubated. The enterprise was established in 1995.Designer, mother of two boys Irena Bulotienėcouldn t find suitable clothes during her pregnancy so she began sewing clothes for herself. Shortly afterproving successful, she opened the first store of that kind in Kaunas.
DURABILITY OF THE GP RESULTS The Business Incubator at KTU Regional Science Park has proved to be able to support itself without any further support from the public authority. That was possible because the premises of the BI was chosen of the right size(too big area of a BI would be hard to keep occupied by the companies) and good management of the staff as the prices were selected high enough to pay off, but low enough to be competitive in the region.
ADDED-VALUE OF THE PRACTICE KTU Regional Science Park has been the first institution of thatkind and now the biggest in Lithuania. Today there are 11 Science Parks that collaboratewith each other in different programmes, projects, events. This business supporting collaboration gives a huge added-value to business. Companies that rent premises in the BI have offices very neareach other so in this way a local community is created. The added-value of that is that companies don t have to look far for business partners. Besides activities forwarded directly to enterprises KTU RSP implements all kinds of projects the companies are the first to know about the results of the projects and can use them in their benefit.
TRANSFERABILITY OF GOOD PRACTICE In order of the GP to be transferred the support of local/regional authority is needed. Local government can give good support by providing premises by use agreement which helps BI to start its activity easier. Strong relations with the University can be an advantage as companies would be allowed to use their laboratories for research and also this would be a source of spin-offs and start-ups for the Business Incubator.
Good Practice of Business incubator of KTU Regional Science Park THANK YOU