Presentation

It is generally accepted that small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), particularly micro and small enterprises, in developing countries lack the necessary resources to effectively scale up, and grow their businesses. Yet these firms offer some of the greatest opportunities for innovation, employment and value creation.  Research has shown that business incubators can be an effective tool for supporting local innovation and new business creation and can reduce SME failure rates substantially. 

As one of the first business incubators in India, TREC-STEP has promoted more than 156 start-up ventures.  By leveraging its location to one of the premier technical institutions of India, the National Institute of Technology (formerly the Regional Engineering College) Tiruchirappalli, TREC-STEP has been a pioneer in promoting young students as entrepreneurs through mentorship programs and other initiatives. 

infoDev

R.M.P.Jawahar, Executive Director, TREC-STEP

TREC-STEP is a self-supported organization and has been recognized national and internationally as a champion of innovation and new business creation in India.  Recently, TREC-STEP was selected by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, to manage and implement the Innovation Fund for financing early-stage entrepreneurs.

Presenter

R.M.P.Jawahar is the Executive Director of TREC-STEP. He holds degrees in a mechanical engineering and an MBA in Systems and Marketing.  He has worked as a management consultant in Price Waterhouse India in 1988-89, and for the past 16 years worked in the business incubation field at TREC-STEP. He is a member of the National Advisory Committee of Business Incubation in India and the National Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry in Technology and Innovation. In addition, he serves as the member in the boards of various Technology Business Incubators in India.

infoDev Business Incubator Initiative

In 2002, with support from the Government of Japan, infoDev launched its Incubator Initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and private sector development in developing countries. This Initiative is dedicated to facilitating the emergence and development of ICT-enabled SMEs in developing countries by supporting a global network of over 40 business incubators.