E3 – A FORMULA FOR SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS INCUBATION

Access to leading entrepreneurs, executives and experts is being made available to Scotland’s fledgling technology companies under the new E3 initiative launched today (Monday December 8).

The programme devised by Scotland’s leading business support company, Innovation Centres Scotland (ICS) has been introduced to mark Global Incubation Day.

E3 delivers the high-level expertise to allow start-up or young companies to achieve their growth potential by matching them with the appropriate entrepreneur, executive or expert.

The scheme forms part of the ICS portfolio of Accelerator Services designed to meet the needs of young, innovative, high-growth potential companies by addressing some of the most common barriers they need to overcome.

The project is being led by Ross Clark, ICS Centre Director responsible for the award winning Hillington Park Innovation Centre.

He said: “Today’s young innovative technology companies have the potential to become the international corporations of tomorrow, delivering economic growth and creating high value added jobs. It is critical, especially now as we experience the most difficult economic environment in more than a generation, that we provide them with the support and assistance that will enable them to emerge from the recession strong, healthy and able to achieve their promise.

” He added: ”Our E3 initiative is designed to provide that essential support. It will ensure our client companies have access to the best possible support at the level appropriate to their individual needs by matching them with business people of the highest calibre. We already have more than 100 entrepreneurs, executives and experts we can call on and are looking to extend that network.

“ Ross, who will participate in a special Global incubation Day event at the Chancellor’s residence at 11 Downing Street today, continued: “Global Incubation Day is the ideal occasion on which to formally launch E3. It is being celebrated in more than 60 countries worldwide to raise the profile of business incubation which offers a range of processes from flexible leases to mentoring and access to management advice and finance. Research has shown that young companies supported by incubation facilities such as ours have a far higher survival rate compared to the total number of new starts over the same period.

” Innovation Centres Scotland (ICS) is one of the UK’s leading incubation and business support companies, operating two innovation centres and managing Scotland-wide initiatives such as Wireless Innovation and the Wellness Innovation and Technology programme.