Workshop Objectives

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 Latin America and the Caribbean. During this three-day event [which is being organized in partnership with the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the InterAmerican Development Bank, the Latin America Division of the International Association of Science Parks, (IASP)], participants will share experiences on overcoming some of the fundamental constraints facing entrepreneurs in the region such as access to growth financing and a challenging business environment.

Workshop Structure

The workshop is designed to explore the challenges facing entrepreneurs in the region through three 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 Workshop sessions. At the end of the second day, a plenary session to identify the key emerging issues and opportunities for collaboration, particularly through the infoDev Latin America and the Caribbean 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 and network development during the fourth and final track.

Tracks:

1) Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Latin America and The Caribbean: Challenges & Strategies

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

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

2) Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Latin America and The Caribbean: 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. It will profile various policy frameworks so participants can learn about what has worked and what has not worked in other countries and 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

3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Latin America and The Caribbean: Strategies & 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 Latin America and the Caribbean.

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

4) Professional development for business incubators and ICT and ICT-enables SMEs

This is a professional development track for organizations involved in business incubation, innovation and entrepreneurship development. It 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
· Monitoring and Evaluation
· Management of Networks of Investors and Tenant Companies