The conference brought together around 200 experts and stakeholders from 38 countries around the Asia and Pacific region to exchange knowledge and ideas on how Information & Communication Technology (ICT)-led innovation and entrepreneurship can drive growth and competitiveness in emerging economies, and how business incubation can be positioned as a strategic tool for economic development.

Main themes of the conference included:

• sharing experiences in designing and implementing national policy frameworks that support innovation and entrepreneurship;
• leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) within business incubators to improve performance and increase the social and economic impact;
• internationalization of incubator tenant companies through co-incubation and soft landing programs, Incubation models for working with grassroots, social and rural entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
• exploring the challenges and opportunities for business incubation in Small Island Developing States, including the Pacific islands.

Incubator and Technology Park managers also discussed the future projects and long-term action plans for the Asia and Pacific network, and a separate Pacific Islands Forum was organized on the last conference day. The conference program is attached.

Valerie D’Costa, Program Manager of infoDev, explains the importance of the conference to infoDev’s work on the ICT-enabled innovation agenda: "infoDev is pleased to be partnering with CRC-Topic Incubator on this workshop, which we hope will facilitate productive interactions among the participants on business incubation as a tool for sustainable growth in the region. Business incubation in Vietnam has been growing rapidly in recent years and by organizing this event in Hanoi, participants will experience first-hand the exciting incubation community that is emerging.  This conference is also an important milestone in the building of a robust network of business incubators and technology parks in the region, and infoDev is excited to be a part of this process." 

For conference materials and photos, please visit the conference website by clicking here