Business Incubators

About Incubators

A Business Incubator is a facility designed to assist businesses to become established and sustainable during their start up phase.

Typically, they do this by providing:

  • shared premises
  • business advice
  • business services
  • access to investor, market and international networks
  • mentoring 
  • a full-time, hands-on management team. 

The incubation period for an individual business is normally two to three years.

US statistics show that business incubators increase the survival rate of start-ups from 35 percent to 87 percent.

If you are a start-up business with high growth aspirations and export potential wanting to become involved in an incubator:

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2008/09 Applications

The 2008/09 funding round is now open for applications. Closing date is 20 June 2008.

Applications will be processed as they are received and ineligible applicants notified as soon as possible.  Applications will be assessed by NZTE staff and relevant external parties, with a final decision on successful applicants expected to be made by September 2008. 

Incubator Awards: Client Guidelines (PDF, 56k)
2008/2009 Application Form (DOC, 28k)

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For further information contact:

contact Richard White
role Manager Incubator Development
phone 04 910 4353
mobile 027 268 3258
fax 04 910 4303
email richard.white@nzte.govt.nz
postal address PO Box 2878 
Wellington

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Other resources

Incubator Toolkit and Support Centre (iDISC)

iDISC - the infoDev Incubator Support Center - is a virtual networking and knowledge-sharing platform for business development professionals and organizations leveraging ICT to facilitate entrepreneurship and new business creation in developing countries.

Science and Technology Park Scoping Study (Jan 2004)
This scoping study was undertaken to provide input to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on the role of STPs internationally and their potential for supporting innovation initiatives already underway.

Incubators New Zealand
Incubators New Zealand is the incubation industry's national association and aims to promote, foster and grow the industry.

The Association of University Related Research Parks (AURP)
The AURP supports research/science parks and technology incubators. If you are involved in technology transfer and commercialisation or building economic development in communities through technology, AURP has valuable benefits and access to a network of professionals worldwide.

The National Business Incubation Association (US) 
The association is a leading organisation advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship.

Asian Association of Business Incubation (AABI)
NZTE is a member of AABI, an organisation that promotes business incubation activities by facilitating information exchanges among Asian incubators, incubator clients and related organizations. Ultimately, this contributes to increased economic activity within the Asian region. Through its membership, NZTE can facilitate access for New Zealand companies to some of Asia's leading business incubators as launchpads into new markets.

Several organisations offer discounted or free services to incubator tenants:

  1. Accelerated Planning Technique - learn how to prepare business plans in less than a day.
  2. Buddle Findlay's Lawchat café - drop in each Monday for some free legal advice.
  3. James and Wells free workshops - learn the best way to capture and exploit Intellectual Property.



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