This regional workshop will bring together the private sector, including business incubators, ICT-enabled small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and investors, as well as the public sector, including policy makers and donor agencies to discuss the opportunities and challenges for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Asia.

The workshop is designed to explore the challenges facing entrepreneurs in the region through four tracks covering the views of both the private and public sectors and concluding with a final session on opportunities for collaboration.  Each track will begin with a plenary session highlighting specific issues that will be further discussed during interactive breakout sessions.  After the breakout sessions a second plenary session will be held during which the moderators from each of the breakout will present the key issues raised and opportunities for collaboration, particularly through the infoDev Asia Regional Network.  On the third day, industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs will provide “hands on” training for business incubator managers and entrepreneurs on key issues such as sustainability, attracting private investment and network development during the fourth, and final track.  

Track One: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia: Challenges and Strategies  

This track provides lessons learned from the private sector, industry players and organizations providing incubation, innovation and entrepreneurship services. This track will cover lessons learned from designing and implementing strategies to overcome the challenges facing the growth of ICT, and ICT-enabled small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

• Entrepreneurships – Policy & Regulation
• Growth Financing
• ICT Applications/Infrastructure

Track Two: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia: The Role of the Public Sector  

This track focuses on policy initiatives for SMEs that governments have introduced to enhance innovation, entrepreneurship and SME development. Particular attention is given to initiatives that improve: financing (from micro-credit to venture capital), marketing and other business development services, the legal (e.g. intellectual property rights) and regulatory environment, and ICT infrastructure and services.  This track will profile various policy frameworks so participants can learn about what has worked, and what hasn't in other countries, and what may be applicable to their circumstances.

Innovation, Business Incubation and Enterprise Development Policies:

• Financing Policies for SMEs
• Policy and Regulatory Reforms
• ICT Infrastructure and Cost of Access

Track Three:  Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Asia: Strategies and Partnerships

This track will combine the discussions from track one and two, and propose actions that the private sector and public sector, including donors, can take to address the constraints to innovation and entrepreneurship in Asia.

• SME Development Tools
• Business Incubation Services
• Network Development of Innovators and Entrepreneurs
• New Mechanisms for Addressing Constraints such as Financing

Track Four:  Professional Development for Business Incubators, and ICT and ICT-enabled SMEs

This is a professional development track for organizations involved in business incubation, innovation and entrepreneurship development. This track addresses skills, tools and approaches used, so managers and staff can improve their expertise to respond to internal issues, external challenges and the needs of their clients.

• Incubation Management, Tenant Company Development and Sustainability
• Attracting Private Investment
• Management of Networks of Investors and Tenant Companies