Project Description
Innocentrix won a tender with the DTI which requires Innocentrix to conduct a study to develop a framework document that will inform the revision of the current Incubator Support Programme guidelines in order to cater for other incubation models that will result in a broader scope of support for the incubators.
Innocentrix is required to have consultations with key stakeholders in the incubation landscape to understand the challenges and opportunities in the sector. These consultations should include the current ISP grant holders and those that had been approved but now cancelled from receiving any financial support. The scope of work further includes the following:
- Interview all the ISP funded incubators and review their current incubation programmes, operational costs including their governance models.
- Determine whether these incubators should be registered as non-profit companies, Section 21 or private companies (Pty) Ltd and recommend the best type of registration.
- Determine whether ISP should expand its scope to support accelerators, germinators, co-working spaces, venture capitalists and prototyping laboratories.
- Investigate and recommend a suitable model to support technology start-ups.
- Investigate the possibility of providing support to incubators for different periods e.g. one, two or three years? How should the funding model be structured for the different periods?
- Investigate the sustainability of partnering with the private sector to support incubators. What are the risks and opportunities for being involved with private sector in co-funding the incubators? Are there any other partners that the DTI should consider?