The MENA regional network of business incubators will hold its annual conference in Bahrain during October 21-24, 2007, hosted by the Bahrain Business Incubation Center.

The conference will target incubator and technology park managers, financial institutions, policy makers, economic development authorities, as well as research and educational institutions. High-level authorities and decision makers will deliver presentations during the first two days of the event, followed by practical workshops and training sessions for incubator and technology park managers.

The event website at www.menainc.net will provide updated program information and assistance with practical arrangements, such as travel and accommodation.

The general aims of the conference are to:

• Raise Awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship for economic development and competitiveness,
• Provide information about the impact of business incubation as well as concepts and tools for incubation management and development
• Intensify knowledge exchange within MENAinc and with other networks regarding the situation, aims, achievements, and perspectives for business incubation
• Expand the network by attracting and integrating new members and supporting organizations
• Provide training to incubator managers

To build on the aims of the conference, the main topics of the conference will be:

• Financing innovative and technology based start-up enterprises and their growth
• Financing SME support and regional economic development systems
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in regional economic development: incubator business models, performance monitoring and impact assessment

We will add updated program and background information here soon. In the meantime, for more information, please contact the infoDev MENA Regional Facilitator Heinz Fiedler by e-mail: heinz(at)spice-group.de.